Lone Territory || Episode 1 ||

[9] NINE //

OH MY GOD I HAVE HAD THIS BOOK UP FOR MONTHS AND DIDNT EVEN REALISE I DIDNT PUBLISH A WHOLE FRICKIN CHAPTER I AM SO SORRY! IM ACTUALLY SO STUPID WTF

Orabelle struggled to breathe properly, she ran tiredly trying to catch up, but the pain was slowly overtaking her. By now everyone had made it to the hangar, Captain Panaka had broken off the group to rendezvous with the Naboo troops who were hidden underground. Orabelle stayed near Padme as Qui-Gon wanted her too, as the two Jedi's, R2 and young Anakin lagged behind.

Padme stopped, signalling the other half of the group to make sure the plan was still ahead. Orabelle spotted droid troops walking the perimeter of the plaza and hangar, she opened her mouth to mention it to Padme but stopped upon seeing the Droids run and shoot. Naboo soldiers were seen through a clearing opening fire at the droids.

The plan was running smoothly, Padme used the commotion as a distraction and run into the main hangar. Shortly after, alarm bells blared through the Plaza alerting more droids, which opened fire at the group, many ducked for cover while Anakin ran under a Naboo fighter. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Orabelle all had their lightsabers at the ready, deflecting the shots which ricochet off their weapons and back to the droids.

Padme stands beside Orabelle, shooting at the droids and aiding the Jedi from fire, Orabelle smiled mentally commenting on how brave the queen was. Padme signalled, "Get to your ships!" and without a moment's hesitation, all the pilots listened to their Queen. Ship after ship left the hangar, some with few blast holes in the sides but not enough to have serious damage. Two fighters pinwheeled into each other, exploding mid-air, but the fight in the sky was just beginning.

Captain Panaka joined forces with the Jedi and Queen to fight off the remaining droids. "More will be coming." Orabelle pointed out as Padme shot down the last droid, she nodded, giving the girl a smile, "My guess is the Viceroy is in the Throne room." She commented, looking to Qui-Gon for approval. "I agree."

They began to make for the exit, passing the fighter Anakin hides in, noticing the group was leaving him behind he stood up, ready to join them, "Hey wait for me!" Orabelle and Qui-Gon turn at the sound of his voice, "No, Ani, you stay there. Stay right where you are."

"But I-"

"Stay in that cockpit," Qui-Gon warned, making the boy sit back down. "We'll be back before you know it Ani." Orabelle gave him a smile, he returned the smile, "please come back.. alive." She smiled and ran off with the others, only to stop in her tracks, the dizziness consuming her. Orabelle looked up and saw the Sith Lord, Darth Maul. Captain Panaka, Padme and part of her troops had backed away, knowing that this was all too well a battle they needn't be involved in.

"We'll handle this." Qui-Gon looked to Obi-Wan who nodded, Orabelle took a step beside her brother, her lightsaber in hands. "Go Orabelle. Protect the queen." Qui-Gon ordered her, she shied away and joined the Queen, looking back at the two as they started duelling with the Sith Lord. She had a bad feeling.

The group retreated to the palace hallway, only to be blocked and trapped by droids who opened fire. They retreated behind a large pillar, knowing that the cover wouldn't last too long. Blasts zoomed past everyone, missing them by as little as an inch, one blast just grazed the top of Orabelle's ear.

"We don't have time for this Captain." Padme gritted as a blast shot flew past her. Orabelle deflected as many shots as she could in the struggle. "Let's try the outside stairway."

Captain Panaka suggested, blasting a hole in the window allowing for everyone to make their way onto a ledge no more than six stories high. Bellow was a monstrous waterfall, the water beat itself harshly against the rocks, Orabelle peered down, as she was the last to move onto the ledge.

Padme gestured for the girl to come near her, as she did. "Hold onto me real tight alright?" she smiled at the young girl, Orabelle nodded and held onto Padme's waist tightly as captain Panaka and ten other men fire at the ledge a few stories above them and they start to climb up the Palace walls.

Orabelle held tightly onto Padme, but she wasn't sure she could hold on for very long, sweat broke out and the pain continued to surge through her, becoming more and more prominent as she continued to exert herself. As a window is heard smashing, she sighs in relief to stand on her own two feet again, "Thank you." She whispers to Padme who gives her a small smile of reassurance.

They head for the Throne Room, only to be stopped by two destroyer droids, when they turn they see another two at the far side of the hallway. Given if Orabelle wasn't in the state she was, they could fight off the droids. However, she was in no fit condition to even be standing as of now, her fatigue growing more and more, it was only a matter of time before she'd succumb to it.

Padme drops her weapons upon seeing there is no choice to make that doesn't involve them all getting killed.

"Throw down your weapons. They win this round." Padme orders to the group, Orabelle made a note to subtly edge herself into the centre of the group and hide her lightsaber, not wanting to part with it.

"But we can't-"

"Captain, I said throw down your weapons."

Captain Panaka and the others lay their weapons down, as a dozen Droids come to take them to the Viceroy. Droid weapons were pointed at the groups back as they were marched forward into the Throne Room.

Orabelle stumbled, latching herself onto Padme's arm, she was losing her footing as pain seared through her. The other arm cradled her stomach and she started to scream, the first time she had ever succumbed to the pain. The droids were clueless as to why the girl was screaming, however, the group looked down at her helplessly, there was nothing they could do.

Orabelle hadn't felt pain like this before, the pain circulated around her body as if her insides were being stabbed inch by inch and her skin felt as though it was peeling off the bone. She was sure that death was more merciful. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her screams ripped at her throat. Padme held the girl as she writhed in pain, and then, just like a push of a button the screams stopped.

Blood pooled in the girl's mouth leaving Padme perplexed as to what happened, she initially thought it was a Jedi thing, but nonetheless she hauled the girl into her arms and continued to cradle her as they walked on. The blood dribbled from the girl's nose and mouth and she started to splutter, spitting blood and saliva as she whimpered. "Qui-Gon." She managed to utter just before her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Padme sucked in a shallow breath as she could see them nearing the Viceroy, Padme had to push on, and the life of the young girl was now in her hands.