"Gooddé da lodia," a coarse voice greeted when the almost surprisingly pleasant chime sounded upon their entrance to the shop. To match the voice, a Toydarian lifted himself up from behind the counter. "Hi chuba da naga?"

"Cheeska uba," Obi-Wan replied with a grin. "Hello Watto."

"Obi!" The Toydarian exclaimed happily. "Eh. Cha skrunee da pat. You may have shot up like a weed since I last saw you, but I know your Master would still put you over his knee if you really meant to do that. Where is Bergoglio? And who are the ootmian hanging about the chik youngee?"

"I'm afraid Master Bergoglio passed away a little over ten years ago," Obi-Wan answered solemnly.

"I'ma sorry to hear that," the Toydarian replied. "Bergoglio was a good man. Brought me good business."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "No, I brought you good business," he corrected happily, "when Master Bergoglio was teaching me how to pilot out there where the sand is soft enough I didn't break my head even if I crashed my speeder."

Watto laughed from his belly at that, and nodded agreeably. "That you did, that you did. You bring me more business?" he asked.

Obi-Wan nodded. "I know you stock better Nubian than anybody else on Tatooine," he stated plainly. "And more of it than anybody else too," he added.

Watto gave a pleased chuckle as he nodded again, accepting the flattery that had been slipped in with the statement of fact, and turned towards the back of the shop. "Peedunkee! Get out here!"

A child answered the call, his clothes the same colour as the sand and clay buildings all around him, the same colour as his hair and the dirt on his face.

"What took you so long?" Watto demanded lightly.

"I was cleaning the switches," the boy answered.

"Employing children, Watto?" Obi-Wan asked with a smile.

"Ah, Ani here is a slave. I won the boy and his mother off Gredulla the Hutt a coupla years ago," the Toydarian explained. "Kid is good with his hands, knows his way around any machine you care to name," he added proudly, as though he'd taught the boy everything he knew.

Knowing Watto as Obi-Wan did, he suspected it was very likely true.

The hovering Toydarian turned to the child. "Watch the shop, I got business to do," he instructed the child, and then waved for Obi-Wan and his company to follow him out to where he kept the Nubian parts. "What you need?"

"A hyper-drive," Obi-Wan answered simply, "and a couple of other parts. Artoo here has the specifics," he added, patting the astromech droid on its dome.

"It might be cheaper for you to buy a whole new ship," Watto quipped right back as they travelled.

Obi-Wan smirked. "I had thought of doing that, actually," he answered easily. "I know who trades around here, and I know who would be happy to take it off my hands, but I thought of you first."

"Ah! Flattery won't get you anywhere with me Obi," Watto scolded fondly. "And I know when you start with it, you're thinking up some scheme."

Obi-Wan chuckled. "Simple roll of the dice," he offered. "Just one roll. You win, you get the ship. I win, we get all the parts we need to fix it – and I'll give you the parts that broke in exchange. I know you and that boy you've got will be able to fix them up, but that will take more time than we have right now."

Watto grinned. "None of your Jedi tricks," he said, and it was an agreement to the bet.

"No loaded dice," Obi-Wan countered just as easily, a smile still on his face.

"Ha!" Watto barked, pleased with the boy. "You got a deal. We make this fair, eh? Get one of your friends here to throw the dice. The chik youngee, perhaps? Might bring you the luck you'll need for this sort of betting."

Obi-Wan nodded in easy agreement, not worried at all about correcting Watto's presumption about Padme. She wasn't dressed like any sort of dancing girl, but he knew that – compared to most of Tatooine's residents – her skin was too smooth to really be on anybody who didn't use their body to make their coin.

"Padme, if you would do the honours?" Obi-Wan requested, even as Watto pulled out the little wooden block he used for quick betting – the one that wasn't loaded. Obi-Wan knew perfectly well that the little Toydarian had two, and the one that had blue dots on half its sides was the one that was loaded. Tatooine's inhabitants were creatures who held on to what they had for as long as it would last them. The dice wouldn't be replaced unless they'd been burned up in a fire – and as hot as Tatooine was, there wasn't much around the place that could actually burn outside of engines.

"Red for you to win, and yellow for me," Watto offered.

"Agreed," Obi-Wan replied.

Padme knelt down so that she could roll the dice onto the dirt, and smiled brightly up at Obi-Wan when it came up red.

"Eh, you win," Watto agreed, a slightly put-out smile on his face. "I make the delivery to your ship and collect the wrecked parts at the same time, okay?" he offered.

"Thank you, my friend," Obi-Wan answered gratefully, and gave a bow to the blue hovering alien.

"You did me a good deal both ways on this," Watto pointed out as they returned to the shop. "New parts to fix up will keep Ani out of trouble while the Boonta Classic is going on," he quipped, causing said child to pout. "Boy actually races," he continued, that hint of pride showing in his voice again. "Sebulba always wins of course, but the boy managed to mostly save the pod when he crashed last time."

"That is certainly impressive," Obi-Wan praised, directing it to the child. "Maybe another year I'll get to see you win a race?" he suggested.

The boy grinned back. "I will next time!" he vowed.

~oOo~

"I can't believe there's still slavery in the galaxy," Padme said when they eventually left Watto's shop behind, clearly her mind still lingering on the child. "The Republic's anti-slavery laws..."

"The Republic doesn't exist out here," Obi-Wan said, his voice soft and tone apologetic. "The Jedi are barely accepted, and the acceptance we have is always on an individual basis. Master Bergoglio spent nearly all his life establishing his own goodwill out here, and I am fortunate that he brought me with him when I was a child and helped me to establish my own."

"But still, that poor boy..." Padme started.

"Has a very kind master in Watto," Revan cut her off quickly. "I don't know Watto, but I could still tell that he was as proud of the child's accomplishments as though he were his own son," he pointed out.

Naruto nodded in agreement to that, much as he too was unhappy about slavery and slaves.

"And you notice he didn't say anything about what the boy's mother was good at?" Obi-Wan pointed out. "That means he doesn't really make demands of her, and even if she is a mother, that is nothing to stop some slave owners from making their female slaves be whores for extra coin, but Watto hasn't, and he won't, because Toydarians don't believe in that sort of thing. If a Toydarian owns a slave, then that slave will have a certain level of care provided for them by their masters – they will be kept fed and healthy."

"Out here, I'm guessing that's as much as many can ask for," Naruto said softly.

Obi-Wan nodded in confirmation. "It isn't perfect, but for what it is, it isn't as terrible as it could be." He judiciously refrained from mentioning that, had the boy been on a Republic planet, he would never know the joy of growing up with his mother. The boy fairly glowed with the Force, but young as the child was, the Council would now deem him too old to train. It would be a cruelty to take the boy away now, even if the child might think he wished for such a 'rescue'.

Padme bit her lip at the gently chiding explanation that had come at her from all sides, but finally she nodded in acceptance.

"So where do we go now?" Padme finally asked.

"Well, we could simply return to the ship, and then leave for Coruscant once the repairs have been completed, or we could go looking for another friend of mine, who I am fairly certain is still alive, to make that trade I was talking about," Obi-Wan said, offering both options to the young queen.

"I think I just want to leave," Padme decided, her voice soft.

The young Jedi nodded silently in understanding, and looked out to where they had landed the ship.

"We'd better hurry," he said. "It looks like a sand storm is coming. We really do not want to be caught out in that."

They passed a returning Watto and Anikin on the way back to the ship, and reached the ramp just in time to hurry up it and have the door close behind them when the storm hit.

"Okay, that was close, and more fun than I've had in a long time," Naruto declared with a wide grin as he slumped against the closed door. There was sand all through his hair, and very likely lodged in the weave of his clothes.

In fact, this was true for all four of them – and it was worse for Padme, because the sand had gotten into her braids as well.

"Right, I'm getting the sand off, and then... I suppose I have a hyper-drive to fix up," Obi-Wan declared. "Artoo? Care to join me?" he asked the little droid.

It whistled back an affirmative, and happily rolled off behind the young Jedi.

~oOo~

"Obi-Wan," Padme called softly into the engine room some hours later. "We received a distress call from Governor Bibble just now."

"I thought the communications tower was down," Obi-Wan said, confused as he came out from where he was fixing the hyper-drive. R2-D2 was dealing with some of the other repairs in another part of the engine room.

Padme confirmed that with a sad little nod. "It was when we left," she agreed. "Governor Bibble said in his message that the people of Naboo are dying, but I knew we couldn't answer him, even without Master Qui-Gon saying so. It was too clearly a trick. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation would have forced him to send it."

"Likely at blaster-point himself," Obi-Wan agreed softly, and moved to her side so that he could run a comforting hand up and down Padme's back. "Did you talk to Revan and Naruto?" he asked.

Padme nodded again. "They agreed. It's either a trap, or an attempt to track us down. Here," she said and pulled a small holocron device from her pocked. It played Governor Bibble's message back for Obi-Wan.

"I do not doubt that my people are dying," Padme whispered sadly once it was complete and she had tucked the disc with the message away in her pocket. "But the only thing I can do to help them now is reach Coruscant faster. It's entirely possible that they traced the message, like Revan and Naruto said. It was sent directly to the royal ship, after all."

Obi-Wan couldn't help but agree, especially as he could now feel the approach of someone, distant yet and he didn't know who, but they were filled with malicious intent that was directed towards their party.

"We will leave Tatooine behind, and they will still be searching for us here by the time we reach Coruscant," he said softly.

Padme nodded, cheek against Obi-Wan's chest, and let him lead her back to her rooms on the ship to rejoin her handmaidens, Revan, Naruto and Sabe her decoy.

A whistle called out to him when he returned and Obi-Wan was not surprised to find R2-D2 waiting for him there.

"Do you approve of my 'purchases' for the ship, Artoo?" he asked the little droid.

The unit gave a positive and happy whistle.

"But what of my actions with Padme?" he questioned more softly. He knew he was treading a dangerous line with the young queen. He was a decade her senior, but he had somehow accidentally taken on the role of a big brother to the young woman. At least, he thought that was how she saw him. He wasn't sure, but he did know that he would not be wilfully blind to any of her behaviour towards him.

The whistle and hum that answered that query were a bit sadder, a bit softer, but still in the affirmative.

Obi-Wan nodded. "No," he agreed. "It won't be easy. And then there's what Master would say," he added. "And of course the Council, as they have opinions about everything."

R2-D2 unleashed a series of bleeps and whines.

"And yes, there's also Revan and Naruto to consider as well as Padme herself, you're quite right," Obi-Wan agreed. "Well, back to work," he instructed with a sigh. "I told her we'd be off the planet before we were found, I intend to keep that promise."

Just as he was saying this, Qui-Gon entered the engine room.

"A sentiment that my logic agrees with," the elder Jedi agreed with a smile, though it fell quickly into a troubled frown. "However, I have a feeling that there is something on this planet that should be brought with us," he continued, a little bit distantly. "Something that I was supposed to find."

Obi-Wan smirked at that. "The Master of the Living Force now knows the trouble of being touched by the Unifying Force," he teased happily.

Qui-Gon scowled at him. "It is not an easy feeling," he grumped.

Obi-Wan chuckled. "I am sorry, Master," he recanted light-heartedly. "But you must own the irony of it all."

Qui-Gon sighed, and sagged down into one of the few seats in the room, nodding his compliance to his Padawan. "I must focus on the mission, be mindful of the here and now, rather than that which I presently have no power to change," he recited, giving himself the advice he so often found himself giving Obi-Wan. For the first time, he realised just how very unhelpful such advice must have always felt to the young man.

"I am sure if you bring the matter before the Council when you report on this mission, they will not be against sending you back to find what has inspired this feeling," Obi-Wan offered, much more helpfully. "And you will know to bring with you funds other than Republic Credits when you come, because this will be your known destination."

Qui-Gon chuckled in agreement at that.

~oOo~

The small throne room of the ship was the largest, and least encumbered space available to them all, and it was there that Naruto was standing with Revan as they supervised Padme, Sabe, and the other girls in practising kata. They could argue that Naboo was peaceful until they were blue in the face, Naruto would retort that their lives were all in danger, yes, even the somewhat-anonymous handmaidens. At which point Revan would add that they were all, therefore, going to damn well give their would-be assassins hell before they became one with the Force.

As many centuries as Naruto and Revan had known each other, Naruto still wasn't one-hundred percent sure about the Force. Chakra had worked just fine for him after all – and everybody could use that, unless their coils were messed up like Lee's had been. Still, he'd learned all the Force-type disciplines that Revan could teach him with the same zeal he had applied to learning jutsu back when the Planet of Naboo was still just the Elemental Nations.

He had actually started teaching Queen Amidala about chakra – how to access and use her own, as well as the theory of it – approximately a month into her term. Normally, Naruto didn't trust a politician even a tenth as far as he could have thrown the palace in Theed. Sure he'd had aspirations to Hokage once, but during the time he'd been learning the ropes before he'd been denied it in favour of Konohamaru, he'd actually learned what-all was involved in being someone in the political arena.

And he'd discovered that he would rather sit down at a tea party with the Juubi where Ma Toad had done the cooking than deal with that mess.

Padme, however, wasn't a politician. She was an idealist. One who used her words rather than her fists, though she wasn't afraid to use the latter should she need to, he'd learned – and been sworn to secrecy over.

Not that he'd argued her desire to keep that under wraps. If nobody expected her to take the violent path, even when it was the best choice, then she would have the element of surprise when that need came. He'd said as much, and been rewarded with an unhappy but grateful blush.

Presently, each one of the young women were running through kata for the different weapons Naruto and Revan had passed out. The first 'day' on the ship, once the immediate danger of getting passed the Trade Federation's blockade around the planet had passed, the two men had taken it upon themselves to... build upon the initial bodyguard training that Captain Panaka had insisted each and every one of them participate in back at the beginning of Queen Amidala's reign.

Sabe was using a staff, while Eirtae had a spear – their forms were similar, but the blade at the end of one of those weapons provided a small, subtle, but important difference in how the two weapons were used. Rabe was using one dagger with surprising efficiency, while Sache was determined to master the use of two at the same time. Yane had a short sword that Naruto had provided – a tanto, the weapon that had been given to all members of the AnBu once upon a time, and a weapon which all of them had been required to be at least proficient in, as part of the elite corps. Fe had chosen a fan as her weapon, much smaller than Temari's had been, though it was made of steel and its edges were sharp enough to slice flesh open to the bone, provided she used it right. Dane had chosen trench knives, which had surprised Revan – and caused Naruto to laugh at his friend.

He had clearly forgotten just how violent some women were capable of being. Naruto, on the other hand, still enjoyed the phantom sensation of Sakura cracking her fist into his skull any time he did something that she would call him 'baka' for.

And she'd called him 'baka' for a lot of things that were perfectly reasonable, so even after being alive for as long as he had, he still got that sensation somewhat regularly.

Padme, both Revan and Naruto had been surprised to see, had chosen to learn the sabre when presented with the opportunity. It was not a lightsaber, that was the weapon of the Jedi, but the original steel weapon. A weapon that was no less intimidating for its very real, very sharp blade. It just couldn't melt stuff the way a lightsaber could.

"I kind of wish we could learn throwing weapons as well," Sabe admitted with a smile as she swung her staff around. "But the blasters do work for range I guess."

"And we have no way of properly practising throwing a weapon while we're confined to an enclosed space like this," Naruto added firmly. "A thrown weapon going astray and bouncing off the walls could hurt somebody."

"Your own blaster fire also can't be used against you except if it is bounced off a weapon like a lightsaber," Reven added pointedly. "Granted, no one else really knows how to throw a shuriken these days, but it's still a blade that can be thrown back at you by an enemy. Would you chance their aim?"

"No, Master Revan," the girls all answered together, smiling at the lecture.

Yes, they all took their duties as bodyguards to Padme very seriously, but learning these... somewhat antiquated forms of fighting, however valuable they might be, was still a slight source of amusement to most of them.

Padme smiled because the others around her did, but her focus was entirely on her forms, determined to master the weapon in her hands as well as she was able, given how little time she'd had with it – and she had begun not long after meeting Revan and Naruto, unlike her handmaidens, who had only been introduced to the pair and their weapons training since they had left Naboo.

There came a gentle chime from the comm. link that connected the private room with the rest of the ship, indicating a person on the other side of the closed door that wished to speak with those beyond.

"What is it?" Revan asked in a business-like, but carefully feminine, voice into their side of the device. After all, only Obi-Wan had been told that the new 'handmaidens' were actually men. Even Captain Panaka didn't know, which really put a twist in his trousers.

"Coming up on Coruscant," Obi-Wan's voice came back, equally business-like.

"Thank you," Revan answered in his own voice, then shut off the link and turned to the young women. "Time to get ready," he told them all.

Padme fought against the urge to bite her lip in nervousness. She had studied politics, she knew it all, how the Courts and the Senate worked, but Naruto had her pegged – she was an idealist, not a politician. She could do the tasks of a politician well enough when needed, but she would never be truly comfortable in such a situation. No matter how passionate she was on any of the matters discussed.

~oOo~

"I suppose you will be returning to the Jedi Temple shortly after we land," Padme said to Obi-Wan softly as the landing protocols were gone through. They were waiting in the ship's 'throne room', those who were not required to be elsewhere at that moment – which truly only meant the Queen, her handmaidens, the Gungan, and the Jedi – the pilots knew how to land the ship without anybody hovering over their shoulders, and Captain Panaka was in another part of the ship, double-checking security before they touched down.

Once more, Sabe was dressed in the fine black dress she had boarded on, and sitting on the throne in Padme's place. They would not trade places until they were in the chambers that would – or at least should – be waiting for them in Coruscant.

"I'm afraid that is probably very likely," he agreed, just as softly, then he smiled for her. "But don't think you'll be getting rid of me that easily," he warned jokingly. "We'll probably escort you as far as your apartment."

Padme smiled, which was the desired response, and then the ship were touching down, light as a feather despite the largeness of the craft, and the ramp was lowered so that they could all disembark into civilisation once more. Civilisation, the city-wide planet where it often seemed that little else grew but greed and corruption – despite the best efforts of the Jedi Temple, that was also located there.

"It is a great gift to see you alive your majesty," Palpatine greeted Sabe when their entourage descended. There was a smile that Padme could see did not reach his eyes, which both surprised and saddened her.

It seemed that some of Naruto's cynicism about politicians was rubbing off on her. Considering her earlier uncharitable thoughts about Coruscant, Revan had been as well.

"With the communications break-down, we were very concerned. I am anxious to hear your report on the situation," the Senator continued. "May I present Supreme Chancellor Valorum."

"Welcome, your highness," Valorum greeted, perhaps a little stiffly, but Padme had the impression from past communications with the man that he was always at least a little stiff. He was a very tense, and slightly nervous man. Peculiar in one who held such power as he was supposed to, but that was the Chancellor – so far as Padme had seen. "It is an honour to finally meet you in person."

"Thank you, Supreme Chancellor," Sabe replied, and the party began to walk to the Chancellor's shuttle.

"I must relate to you how distressed everyone is over the current situation," Valorum offered, and with more sincerity than Palpatine had. "I've called a special session of the Senate to hear your position," he added.

"I'm grateful for your concern, Chancellor," Sabe said politely, and very correctly.

"There is a question of procedure," Palpatine interrupted politely with that same smile, the one that didn't reach his eyes at all. "But I'm confident we can overcome it."

Padme narrowed her eyes at the man's back, as she suddenly – and for no real reason that she could pin down – suspected the the procedure he was confident in overcoming was not getting the Senate on her side and moving, but rather getting the treaty – the one that the Trade Federation wanted her signature on – signed.

It had been a few days since they had left Naboo by now. The Senator should have already made a beginning in the Senate. He should have been laying the ground work ready for her. She should not have to be concerned about procedure now that she had finally arrived. Everything should be ready for her to make a final plea, and a vote be taken as to the action that was required at the very least.

"Jedi Kenobi?" Padme asked softly as they all piled into the transport that would carry them to the quarters Palpatine had arranged for the Queen – she had been quick to claim a seat by his side, and basked in the warmth she felt from him even as she ignored the many nervous flutterings within her stomach. She was concerned for her people, that was all it was. "You have more experience with negotiating matters than I do," she admitted, already tired of politics when she had only just arrived on the planet that made its living off them. "What do you think will happen in the Senate?" she asked in a whisper.

"The Trade Federation will deny your accusations for lack of proof," Obi-Wan answered softly. "I suspect that someone else will agree that independent proof is needed before any action can be taken."

"What is your advice?" she asked in a suddenly hopeless whisper.

The young Jedi smiled. "Fortunately for your situation, there were a couple of independent witnesses to the crimes committed by the Trade Federation present on Naboo at the time of the invasion," he offered. "And they were sent by Supreme Chancellor Valorum himself, so how could the Senate contest them?"

Padme smiled gratefully, and was sorely tempted to be completely improper for even her disguised station and rest her head on his near shoulder, while twining both of her arms about one of his. She resisted.

"I'm surprised it took you until now to actually ask anybody about that," Revan quipped, his own voice just as soft as theirs as it came from directly behind Obi-Wan.

"Padme has been put through a great deal in a short amount of time Revan," Naruto censured with an easy smile. "You can't expect her to think about Senatorial reactions when she's so worried about her home and her own body betraying her."

Obi-Wan was instantly focused on Padme – and with an intensity that very nearly saw her heart completely halt. Certainly it stuttered for a moment, and her stomach had completely tied itself in a knot.

"Are you ill?" he asked, concerned as his incredibly blue eyes studied each one of Padme's features, looking for any sign of her being in less than completely perfect health. "I did not think you had met with anything that would risk your health while we were on Tatooine but..."

"I am well," Padme insisted softly, though a frown crossed her face. "I just..." she floundered. "I have such strange feelings," she admitted.

Obi-Wan relaxed. "Feelings, I know about," he said with certainly, and clearly willing to help her with the matter.

"I do not think my feelings are the sort you are taught about in the Jedi Temple," Padme commented.

Obi-Wan huffed a silent laugh, knowing that to actually laugh would draw the attention of the rest of the party. Palpatine was speaking to Sabe, discussing the Senate. The Chancellor and Qui-Gon were talking amiably. The other handmaidens were finally talking to Jar-Jar a little more freely. At present, the only ones aware of his conversation with Padme were the two of them, Revan, and Naruto.

"Perhaps not in the Temple," Obi-Wan allowed, "but my first master made certain that I learned about every sort of feeling most species are inclined to have when he took me out with him. I admit to it having been a very embarrassing education at times," he added with a depreciating smile.

"I would like to try and figure it out on my own," Padme requested, bowing her head shyly – though she didn't actually register the action. If she had, then she would have been very surprised with herself. Padme could never recall being shy in her life, and would not register that she was shy in this moment until some hours had passed.

"We've already decided we aren't going to tell her," Naruto added with a gesture between himself and Revan. "We know what's bothering Padme, but it really is something that she has to figure out for herself."

Slowly Obi-Wan nodded in acceptance of this, though his eyes shifted back and forth between Padme beside him, and Revan and Naruto behind him a few times as he tried to figure out for himself – with so very few clues – what could possibly be bothering the young queen apart from the obvious difficulty on Naboo.

~oOo~

In the apartment she was given, there was finally a chance to be properly refreshed. To clean off the sand of Tantooine, and to resume her place in the robes of a queen, rather than a handmaiden, with the painted face of her station. Sabe gladly retook her place as one of Amidala's handmaidens, and they moved as a collective to join Palpatine in the sitting room, where he had been reciting how the Senate worked since they had disappeared to change, with only Naruto and Revan watching him – they had been 'standing guard' at the door to the suite.

The Senator's voice was carried most effectively by a communications device until the Queen and her handmaidens emerged, when it was no longer needed. Regardless, Amidala had set the device to recording from the moment the Senator began his soliloquy – for later re-examination.

"There is no civility, only politics," Palpatine declared as he paced back and forth across the room, while Amidala took a seat. "The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good. I must be frank, your majesty, there is little chance the Senate will act on the invasion."

"Chancellor Valorum seems to think there is hope," Amidala pointed out regally.

"If I may say so, your majesty, the Chancellor has little real power," Palpatine countered, and it was said with a strange kind of detached viciousness that alarmed Amidala more than the words he said, and a great deal more than she let on. "He is mired by baseless accusations of corruption," he continued, and the word 'baseless', though it came before the rest, was spoken as though it was an afterthought.

An play at reassurance while at the same time forcing through a veiled negative view of the man.

Amidala made a mental note to investigate who was making those accusations, because she herself did know them to be without foundation. She had only been in office for a little over a year, but already she had a good measure of the man from her previous communications with him.

"The bureaucrats are in charge now," Palpatine added.

Bureaucrats, Amidala knew from her studies, were people who enforced the strict following of rules and regulations. Certainly such people being in charge would mean having to wade through large amounts of red tape, but according to the rules, according to the laws, Naboo was the victim and the Trade Federation was in the wrong. Amidala was confident in her case, provided that the people Palpatine was so disdainfully labelling 'bureaucrats' actually were.

Still, it was expected of a young woman to ask an experience man for advice.

"What are our options?" Amidala questioned. It would also help her to learn more of the man's motives. He was the representative of her planet in the Senate, but recently she felt like she couldn't trust him any more. She didn't know why, but she just didn't. Maybe it was because he'd been in politics too long and now gave off that greasy-politician vibe.

"Our best option would be to push for the election of a stronger Supreme Chancellor," Palpatine answered easily.

Naruto and Revan both quietly snorted in disdain, but as they were standing by Amidala's shoulders now, she'd heard them. She would question them about that reaction later, in private.

"One who could control the bureaucrats," Palpatine continued, "and one who could give us justice," he added, and that latter was more of an afterthought. "You... could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum," he suggested.

Amidala could see his ambition there easily enough, and it concerned her. To control those who were 'in charge' of the Senate. He cared less for justice for Naboo than he did about gaining power.

"Who has been our strongest supporter?" Amidala asked sarcastically.

Palpatine backed down a little. "Our only other choice would be to submit a plea to the Courts," he said apologetically.

"The Courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate," Amidala snapped, not at all appreciating the options he had presented to her. "With the knowledge that our people are dying, Senator, and with no true progress made here, why had you not called a vote of no confidence yourself, if you believe it to be the best recourse? Or submitted our plea to the Courts in advance of my arrival?" she demanded.

"To be realistic, your majesty, I think we're going to have to accept Federation control for the time being," Palpatine replied, blatantly avoiding answering either of her very pointed questions, as though he thought she wouldn't notice.

As though he thought she wouldn't be able to connect his words and inaction with the actions of the Trade Federation.

Palpatine then bowed to her and excused himself.

Once the door had closed behind him, Amidala turned to Revan and Naruto. "Alright, what was that for?" she asked.

"Getting a new Chancellor at this point won't do a damn thing about the situation on Naboo," Naruto stated plainly. "It's politics."

"The new Chancellor, when he or she is eventually elected after however long, would need to gather a support-base before they could take any action," Revan agreed. "You're better off inviting Senators and Ambassadors from other planets and systems to a private discussion and asking for their support in bodily evicting the Trade Federation from Naboo."

"Don't really need inter-planetary aid," Naruto pointed out. "I'll bet the Gungans could lend a hand, if you asked 'em right, and Kami knows I haven't had a chance to have a good dust-up for a long time, and I was called a one-man army back when I was a teenager," he added, the joyfully wicked smirk of a trickster curling his lip.

"The last time was when we met," Revan agreed, then winced in remembered pain. "Yeah, Naruto can win against the whole droid army by himself if you really need him to," he assured the young queen.

"I'll be out for a week after, but I can do it," Naruto promised gently.

"I don't want this to come to war," Amidala insisted.

"Then what about asking the Jedi?" Naruto suggested. "Because you know the Senate will ask for proof, rather than taking you at your word, even if half of them all know you're telling the truth."
"The Jedi are a neutral party that were sent to Naboo by the Chancellor to mediate the matter," Revan agreed.

The two men were suddenly tackled from all sides by delighted handmaidens hugging them and praising them with delighted laughter, and the only reason Queen Amidala didn't join them was because her current set of royal robes prevented any fast movement.

~oOo~

When Obi-Wan and Master Qui-Gon had completed their report to the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan was sent to the suite given to Queen Amidala, just him. Master Qui-Gon was making ready to return to Tatooine to investigate the Force prompt he'd felt while there.

"I'm here to escort her highness to the Senate," Obi-Wan informed the guard at the door, who in turn relayed that to the handmaidens inside via a communication device affixed to his uniform.

"You're early," the guard added to Obi-Wan, briefly, before a feminine voice commanded that he be admitted.

The sentiment was echoed by the handmaiden who greeted him, and then by Amidala herself before he got a chance to explain his reasoning.

It was the first time he'd actually seen Padme in her royal regalia, and he could see the contours of her features beneath the white face-paint, so he knew that it was her, and not one of her handmaidens playing decoy again.

"I have permission from the Council to speak up at the Senate regarding my testimony as evidence against the Trade Federation," Obi-Wan supplied. "Master Qui-Gon and I were sent by the Supreme Chancellor to negotiate a settlement with the Trade Federation after all, and they made an attempt on our lives before even meeting us. Added together with the droid army they were carrying, and the message your majesty received from Governor Bibble, I have hope that we will be able to sway any doubters in the Senate."

Amidala smiled in gratitude at that. "Thank you, Jedi Padawan Kenobi," she said. "I do believe that my people will owe you a debt of gratitude before this day's end."

"Forgive me, your highness, but I think your neck would owe you a far greater debt of gratitude if you did not wear such an extremely elaborate fashion," Obi-Wan offered, unable to held glancing back up at her incredible hairstyle.

Amidala smiled at that. "It is a bit much," she agreed, barely restrained laughter bubbling in her tone. "But I have never been in charge of the royal wardrobe of Queen Amidala. I only get a say in my personal dress, when I have a chance to take time off from being any kind of politician."

Revan and Naruto, who were going to be her 'handmaiden' escorts for the journey to the Senate building, smirked at that. The real handmaidens all gave falsely-offended exclamations as they continued to fuss with Amidala's appearance.

"Are you ready to make your way to the Senate, your highness?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Nearly," Amidala answered. "How comprehensive will your testimony be of the Federation's transgressions?" she questioned as she moved back into the hidden part of her dressing room, where a handmaiden waited with her next layer of clothing.

"I took the time to collect the mission records from the Temple Archives, as well as the single progress report that was filed with Chancellor Valorum when we landed on the Trade Federation's ship. Beyond that, I can only tell them what I personally witnessed. The droid army and its deployment, that you were held against your will, and that the royal star-ship was fired upon when we left the planet."

"Unless someone starts demanding proof," Revan started, "don't volunteer that we have any," he advised.

Naruto nodded in agreement. "Mm-mm," he grunted. "Don't want anybody targeting Jedi Kenobi for this," he stated.

"Indeed not," Obi-Wan agreed with a smile. "I can protect myself, but I'd just as soon avoid assassination attempts."

"I should hate to lose someone I can call a friend to the violent machinations of a political opponent," Amidala agreed solemnly, and stepped out into view once more, finally ready.

Obi-Wan tilted his head to the side slightly as he took in the Queen.

"You look so small," he said softly.

Amidala blinked. "I don't see how," she countered.

Obi-Wan shook his head. "The large head-dress, the large clothing, but tiny little you in the middle of it all, having to walk slowly and carefully so that you don't trip or over-balance," he explained. "I suppose it doesn't matter though," he added easily, and offered his arm to the young queen.

"We wanted her majesty to look as imposing as possible," one of the handmaidens, Eirtae, stated with a frustrated sigh.

"I think you went overboard a little," Obi-Wan said plainly as Amidala tentatively placed her hand on his offered arm, "but at least it in no way detracts from the beauty of Naboo's Queen," he added to Amidala herself in a whisper, spoken softly and warmly into the shell of her ear.

Amidala was glad of the thick white make up at that moment, because she could feel her cheeks warm and was certain that they would have been visibly quite pink. As well as that, her heart – which had not been calm in the first place, nervous to face the Senate as she was – stuttered for a moment before it doubled its speed.

"I- I just hope that this can all be resolved without resorting to conflict, however ready some of us might be for, what did you call it, Naruto?" she asked pointedly.

Naruto grinned unrepentantly. "A good dust-up," he answered. "I'm thinking it's about time I came out of hiding again anyway. I do that every few thousand years," he admitted freely. "It's how I met Revan, after all."

"Always showing up when there's some great conflict to be fought in, and then disappearing back into the bowels of Naboo's capital city," Revan confirmed with a smirk of his own.

Obi-Wan's mouth dropped open slightly. "I think there is more to that story than I have been told," he stated in wonderment, though he didn't press for details. Instead, he merely shook his head and summoned the elevator that would take them to where the speeder was waiting to convey them all to the Senate building.

~oOo~

"The Chair recognises the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo," Supreme Chancellor Valorum declared to the cavernous body.

Palpatine stepped up to the podium of the little pod, and it detached to be seen by all those who were in their pods, lining the walls of the building.

"Supreme Chancellor, delegates of the Senate. A tragedy has occurred," Palpatine began. "Which started right here with the taxation of the trade routes and has now engulfed our entire planet in the oppression of the Trade Federation."

"This is outrageous!" called out a voice as another pod rose to the centre of the massive space. "I object to the Senator's statements."

"The Chair does not recognise the Trade Federation at this time," Chancellor Valorum censured, even as the two standing on either side of him also rose from their seats.

"To state our allegations," Palpatine resumed, "I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of the Naboo, who speaks on our behalf," he said, and stepped back from the pod's podium as a wave of curious murmurs swept the echoing room.

Amidala, feeling the full weight of her headdress and robes of office, stepped up to the podium that the (possibly traitorous – wait, where had that thought come from? And yet it settled in her mind as the correct accusation...) Senator for Naboo had just vacated.

"Honourable representatives of the Republic," she began. "I come to you under what is, to my people – and potentially soon to all of yours if this matter is not handled with all speed and delicacy – very grave circumstances. My planet has been invaded by a droid army controlled by the Trade Feder-"

"I object!" shouted out the representative of the Trade Federation once more, interrupting her. "There is no proof!"

Amidala raised her chin at that. "I was not aware that you had been recognised, Sir Representative of the Trade Federation," she snapped as politely as she could. "Though I wonder how you can say there is no proof. This body is fully aware of the Trade Federation's blockade of my planet. I received a communication four standard days ago that the Senate had sent two ambassadors to negotiate a settlement between us. That, certainly, may be confirmed at once?" she demanded.

"I did order that two ambassadors be sent to negotiate a settlement," Chancellor Velorum agreed first. "And I received a communication from them when they landed on the station of the Trade Federation that was part of that blockade."

"The Trade Federation did not meet any ambassadors," countered the Federation representative.

Amidala looked back into those who had accompanied her into the Senatorial pod, despite Palpatine's gentle protestations. Naruto and Revan were present with her, while Obi-Wan, she knew, had continued on to a 'guest' pod, ready to be called upon to give testimony before the Senate should it be required of him.

Revan and Naruto both nodded solemnly. They didn't want to give away their hand, but proof had been demanded.

"I call upon Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, a representative of the Jedi Order, and one of the Ambassadors sent by this body for the purpose of negotiating a settlement," Amidala declared.

Amidala noted, as the Naboo pod moved back slightly and the guest pod with Obi-Wan in it floated up to address the Senate, that Sentor Palpatine looked very tense and more than just a bit angry as he watched these events unfold.

"Honoured members of the Senate, how I come to stand before you now is a potentially long recitation of events, but I shall endeavour to make it as brief as I can without omitting any pertinent details," Obi-Wan began, his voice clear and steady, yet humble at the same time. His hands were folded away inside his large brown sleeves, as though to assure everybody present that he would not even attempt to use the Force to manipulate their opinions.

"My Jedi Master and I arrived at the blockade, were recognised, and granted docking permission at approximately fourteen-oh-five, intergalactic standard time on the fourteenth day of this month. We were then escorted to a meeting room by a protocol droid," he added with careful thought, not wanting to give away that he could remember the designation of that droid should an investigation require its memory banks. No need to give the Trade Federation extra reason to wipe the memory banks of likely the only non-battle droid they had on that ship.

"My master and I waited for somewhere between ten and twenty minutes without being greeted by any members of the Trade Federation when the droid returned with refreshments. I did not have the time to finish the drink brought to me when there was a sound of an explosion, a gas came through the air-vents, and I know that I felt the death of both of the pilots of the ship we had arrived on. Please be aware that this is not an accusation," he said quickly, cutting off the Federation's representative before he could object again. "As both a Jedi and an Ambassador in this situation, I will make no accusations. I am only giving testimony at this time of what I saw and experienced."

"Thank you, Jedi Kenobi," Chancellor Valorum said with a grateful tilt to his head. "Please continue."

"The doors of the room were shut, and were I not a Jedi I would have suffocated in the thick gas. Again, this is not an accusation. The explosion that I heard could have been as well as caused an accident. When the doors were opened and blaster fire opened upon us, however, that was much harder to justify as an accident," Obi-Wan declared firmly. "Still, the droids kept by the Trade Federation could have malfunctioned, and my master and I set out to meet the Federation heads that were on base to learn the truth of this. More droids attacked us as we made our way to the bridge, and we were forced to retreat from that line of enquiry. Our retreat led us to where I was able to obtain this image capture," Obi-Wan said, and brought up the image from the log he had been referencing as he made his report to the Senate.

It was an image of the droid army, waiting for deployment, in the Trade Federation's main station orbiting Naboo.

Gasps went up around the Senate, especially when the first of the ships was deployed, presumably to the planet below.

"Jedi Kenobi, may I press to know why you thought to have the equipment to take captures?" the Chancellor asked as he stared, as shocked as everybody else in the room, at the projected image.

Obi-Wan smiled a little sheepishly. "I had heard of the beauty of Naboo before being sent on this mission, and had hoped for a chance to see some of that beauty before returning to Coruscant," he explained doing his level best not to duck his head in embarrassment – showing weakness before a room full of politicians.

"Thank you, Jedi Kenobi," the Chancellor answered. "Have you anything further to say on this matter?"

Obi-Wan nodded solemnly. "As a Jedi who has been trained in such matters of investigation and mediation, and as one who had already been appointed by this Senate to investigate the matter, my evidence must be taken as both impartial, as this was the spirit it was given in, and also as valid. This army of droids has already been deployed upon Naboo," Obi-Wan declared over the echoing murmurs of disbelief. He changed the image to one he had captured quickly before freeing the pilots in the hangar. "And they are holding the people of Naboo hostage."

Obi-Wan closed the image after that statement had sunk in, and stepped back. His pod drifted back from the centre of the Senate as he sat down one the seat that was part of the pod.

Amidala retook her place as the focus of the Senate when she stood once more, and her pod drifted forward again.

"I do not wish for this conflict to come to war," she stated plainly. "The Naboo have been a peaceful people for several centuries," she emphasised. "If the Trade Federation do not remove their droid army from my planet, however, then I will have no choice but to return to Naboo and fight to reclaim my home. The Naboo were not always so peaceful as they are now," she added, making the statement sound as ominous as she possibly could.

No one else saw Naruto's manic grin, or Revan's darkly promising smirk. Concerned, thoughtful silence echoed around the chamber nevertheless.

"Jedi Kenobi," the Chancellor called up once more. "Do the Jedi Order stand beside Naboo in this?" he asked.

"I cannot answer for the Jedi Council," Obi-Wan replied honestly. "I am not a part of it. Nor can I answer for the Order as a whole. I have rarely been present in the Temple for more than five days together over the past fifteen years. I am present here, now, with the knowledge and permission of the Council as well as my own Master, but I do not have authority to speak on their behalf. I do have leave to give you their reasoning for sending me, if that will be sufficient?" he offered.

"Please, Jedi Kenobi," the Chancellor requested.

"The Jedi Council sent me to give testimony to my knowledge of the impending conflict between Naboo and the Trade Federation with the express hope that the Senate find a peaceful resolution to this matter with all alacrity," Obi-Wan stated.

Chancellor Valorum nodded in acceptance of this. "Thank you, Jedi Kenobi," he said, and turned to address the Senate at large. "It is clear to me that this matter is one that must be resolved quickly," he declared with a severe frown.

~oOo~

"That must be a session for the record books," Senator Palpatine declared as they left the building behind after six solid hours of discussion. "I haven't seen the Senate move so quickly on a matter since I was a teenager learning how it all worked."

He didn't seem at all happy about it though. In fact, he looked downright dissatisfied and frustrated – not at all the expression one would expect for a man who's home planet had just effectively won a coup in the Senate.

"It was certainly effective," Amidala answered with a much more pleased expression. "Implying that it could be the homes of any of the other senators that the Trade Federation targeted next was a most effective method of getting faster results," she commented happily, dancing brown eyes conveying gratitude to both Revan and Naruto, who had suggested that ploy. After all, no one knew why, exactly, Naboo had been chosen for the boycott, of all places.

Both Naruto and Revan bowed their heads back subtly.

"And Jedi Kenobi's evidence was certainly most helpful to our cause," Amidala added, her smile stretching even wider as she looked over to the Jedi who had once again offered her his arm, and which she was pleased to take advantage of once more.

"It is my place to serve the galaxy," Obi-Wan stated, and his tone was somehow light-hearted and solemn at the same time. "And in some instances, it is also most truly a pleasure," he added softly, and smiled to the young queen who was currently borrowing his arm.

"There remains some concern," Palpatine cautioned. "The Trade Federation may decide not to abide by the Senate's decision. They may elect to remain in illegal occupation."

Amidala nearly tripped on her hem at that, but Obi-Wan and Naruto both caught her, and Naruto squeezed his queen's hand to remind her of the assertion she had brought before the Senate not so long ago: Naboo had not always been as peaceful as it was now, and it would not be hard for the true power of their past to evict the Trade Federation from their home.

"If that should be the case, then Naboo herself will remove them," Amidala declared with a low growl.

~The End~

~Omake~

Some months after they'd evicted the droid army from Naboo, Naruto and Revan had somehow – they weren't sure exactly, though they had some idea that it had to do with Obi-Wan's knighting – found themselves in the chamber of the Jedi Council at the same time as Qui-Gon was there with a little boy he'd brought back from Tatooine.

A familiar little boy.

"The Force is strong with him," agreed one of the Councillors.

"He is to be trained then?" Qui-Gon asked/stated.

"No," answered a dark-skinned Jedi who Obi-Wan had told them beforehand was called Mace Windu. "He will not be trained."

"No?" Qui-Gon demanded, hands going to his hips.

"He's too old," Mace said simply.

"He is the Chosen One," Qui-Gon insisted. "You must see that!"

"Excuse me for interrupting, but... 'chosen one'?" Revan asked.

"Prophecy, there is," Yoda answered. The little green trog with the great big ears could only be Yoda. They'd been told about him. "Obi-Wan, a recitation for your guests."

"In the time of greatest despair, a child shall be born who will destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force," Obi-Wan obediently recited. "I'm the one who did the research on the prophecy for Master Qui-Gon," he added softly to Naruto and Revan.

"Kid's nine," Naruto said plainly. "Was there a time of 'great despair' nine years ago that I didn't hear about?" he asked pointedly. "I admit I was out of the loop a little, but I'm fairly sure that I qualify for 'born in a time of great despair' more than little Mr Skywalker here."

"You?" Mace Windu asked, surprised and slightly confused. "I'm sorry, but we haven't even been properly introduced to you."

Naruto shrugged easily. "Naruto Uzumaki, this is Revan. I was born as a demon – yes, a literal demon – as tall as this building was rampaging against my village, with people dying everywhere. Hell, I was being called 'child of the prophecy' myself back when I was in my teens."

Eyes went wide in the chamber. Only Revan wasn't surprised. He'd heard the story before.

"Nebulous Prophecy is mostly junk anyway," Revan quipped. "Self-fulfilling, and never fun. Best ignored and forgotten. Unlike the Sith," he added, much more seriously, his red eyes glaring around the room. "I understand you all think that the Sith are extinct."

"They have been for over a thousand years," offered the Jedi to Yoda's right.

Revan and Naruto both snorted in disgust.

"I invite all of you down to the Archives to research the one called Revan. Revan the Butcher. Revan the Prodigal Knight. Darth Revan," Revan snarled at them.

Those eyes, which had relaxed from being wide-eyed only a moment before practically popped out of their associated skulls. Jaws dropped too.

"Sith are less plentiful," Revan said. "But I'm certain of," he paused to close his eyes and concentrate on the Force. "At least three being alive right now, and that apart from myself, since I'm not really properly Sith any more."

"Um, Naruto?" Obi-Wan spoke up hesitantly. "I know that the Sith being around is a big deal, but... a demon?" he asked weakly.

Naruto chuckled. "The most powerful of nine that used to wander Naboo periodically," he answered easily. "Dad managed to break it into two, because you really can't kill a demon, and sealed half into me while the other half was sealed into another kid by some monks. There was this nut job though, wanted to collect all the Biju up so that he would have the power to create an illusion over the whole world."

"Causing war along the way?" Revan quipped, having not heard this story for a while, so he wasn't perfectly clear on the details.

"Nah, that was his intermediary," Naruto corrected easily. "Pein believed he could create world peace through war. He wasn't exactly sane either, but he was aiming for world peace at the end. Just went about it in a bad way. He got called the 'child of the prophecy' too. It can really do bad things to the brain, having a prophecy laid on you."

"You turned out alright," Obi-Wan offered.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at his young friend. "I ultimately re-combined the nine Biju into the Jubei, re-sealed it inside myself, have seen the culture and habits of my entire planet fade away and be completely replaced, and am a century or two over a million years old. If I wasn't well adjusted by this point, the entire galaxy would know about it," he said flatly.

"He's still a prankster too," Revan added. "Expect none of your whites to still be white when you get back to your rooms," he warned the Council.

Yoda narrowed his eyes at Naruto. "Like this one, I do," he proclaimed shrewdly. "However, change the fate of young Skywalker, this does not. Trained, he shall not be."

"Not by you," Revan and Naruto answered at the same time.

Naruto grabbed Anikin around the waist and hoisted him up like a sack of rice. "Come on gaki," he said as he headed for the door. "Back to Naboo with us. You'll live with Revan and me, and we'll teach you stuff. You'll hate it. It'll be great!"

"He is a million years old, roughly," Revan said. "I don't think he was ever sane though. Obi-Wan, congratulations on becoming a Jedi Knight. Be sure not to get caught up in all their modern, stuff, nonsense rules like not being allowed a family, or that Jedi can only be trained before a certain age. That foolishness has only been around the last three-hundred years or so. I hope you'll visit us?"

Obi-Wan nodded dumbly.

Revan looked over his shoulder at Yoda. "You can visit too," he permitted, and then he followed Naruto out.

Behind them, Yoda laughed.

~The End~