Lone Territory || Episode 1 ||

[8] EIGHT //

  (Sorry for the late update, School has been absolutely crazy! i had 4 portfolios due and i wanted to cry a lot. Without further ado here's Chapter 8, and Chapter 9 is on the way!) Not edited

The Naboo spacecraft lands in among the familiar foliage and environment. Orabelle held up her end of the bargain, as she exited the ship with Anakin. He often asked the girl if she was in pain, while she was in an extreme amount of pain, she refused to voice it knowing that if she started to accept she was in pain she would begin to do nothing because of it. She pushed the thought of being in pain far back in her mind, as she didn't want to focus too greatly on it.

"You know.. being in pain doesn't make you weak." Anakin pointed out to the girl as they joined the others, Orabelle smiled and shook her head, "pain makes you human, I understand that but there's a time and a place to suffer, on the brink of war is not a time to suffer." Anakin often always found that whenever Orabelle had something to say it was meaningful, honest and came from the heart, and he looked up to her because not a thing she said was meaningless.

The two continued to talk, Anakin sadly stating that he was too old to be trained a Jedi, which Orabelle refused to accept. However, having already defied the council she wasn't going to do it a second time by trying to fight for Anakin's cause. Putting a stop to their conversation as the group trekked on foot to search for the Gunguns, Anakin found himself following closely near Qui-Gon, followed by Obi-Wan and his sister.

Not particularly paying attention, Orabelle hadn't realized the group had stopped and she continued walking until she bumped into her brothers back, sending her stumbling onto the ground which caused an immense amount pain to rupture through her body. Both her brother and Qui-Gon stopped and searched for her reaction to the fall.

Given that there was a war about to happen, Orabelle gritted her teeth and dusted herself off. If it were any other possible situation she would have burst into tears just from the pure agony she was enduring. Obi-Wan aided his sister up off the ground, "are you alright Bella?" although he knew the answer and he knew she wouldn't give them the right one.

"I'm fine." She reassured with a very unconvincing smile that everyone could see past. They couldn't deny that the girl's resilience and persistence were commendable but she was weak, Qui-Gon even feared that continuing like she was would lead to a fatal end. Obi-Wan kept a close eye on his sister as they met up with the Gunguns and their leader once again.

"Jar Jar, yousa payen dis time. Who's da uss-en others?" Boss Nass, head of the Gunguns spoke. It was a tense moment before the Queen took a step forward away from Captain Panaka and the others. "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo.. I come before you in peace." Her low voice boomed, however not in authority or superiority, just in strain to be heard.

"Naboo biggen. Yousa brignin the mackineeks... Dya busten uss-en omm. Yousa all bombad. Yousa all die'n, mesa tink." Upon hearing this, the air grew thick with tension. Captain Panaka and others looked around with nervous eyes, the three Jedi remain calm and unmoved having dealt with the Gunguns only just days ago. Anakin looks between the groups, taking in everything, particularly how the three Jedi handle a situation like this one with such calmness.

"We wish to form an alliance.." The Naboo queen stated stiffly, much like the other Naboo who remained stiff and nervous.

Breaking the stillness was Padme, who stepped forward causing great confusion and panic in the group. "Your honour." The young handmaiden spoke up, something that's considered out of term for a handmaiden. "Whosa dis?" Boss Nass questioned, peering down at the brave handmaiden.

"I am Queen Amidala." The statement shocked nearly the entire group, all the Naboo refusing to believe that after all this time they couldn't even tell the difference between the real queen and a fake one. Gesturing to the made-up queen beside her, "this is my decoy.. My protection.. My loyal bodyguard." Among all the surprise and shock, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon share a knowing look, Orabelle remained unmoved, she knew there was something different with Padme yet she wasn't sure what it was. The answer was here.