Gonk Force

Episode III

The elevator was rather tight with all four of them squeezed inside. No one had wanted to wait for the next lift and be the last to see Padmé, so they had all tumbled into the tiny space together.

Qui-Gon seemed to be the only one who didn't mind the squeeze. He looked down at Gonk and smiled. "Remember, my little padawan, Padmé is a senator now. We should address her as such."

"Gonk," Gonk said in agreement. Gonk didn't think Padmé would mind how they addressed her considering she had pretended to be a handmaiden for most of the time they had known each other.

"Your sweating," Obi-Wan told Anakin.

The pair of them stood at the back of the elevator and Gonk, stuck facing forward, had been unable to join in their conversation. Gonk had heard Obi-Wan laugh, but Gonk didn't know why.

"Relax. Take a deep breath," Obi-Wan instructed.

Gonk was glad Gonk didn't sweat. It was hot and stuffy in the elevator and Jedi robes were rather warm with all their lairs. Gonk wondered if Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were using a Force trick to hide their discomfort since they were not sweating like Anakin was.

Finally, the doors opened and Gonk escaped the lift. At once the Gungan Jar Jar Binks bounded towards them, jumping in excitement as he saw Obi-Wan. Gonk thought it was Master Kenobi's ginger mullet which made Jar Jar so happy.

"Obi! Obi! Obi!" Jar Jar was ignorant of Obi-Wan's wincing at the newly acquired nickname. "Qui! Qui! Qui! And Gonk! Gonk! Gonk! Messa so smilen to see yousa."

"It's good to see you too-" Obi-Wan started.

"Wahoooooooooo!" Jar Jar screeched "Annie? Nooooooo! Little Bitty Annie?"

Anakin looked even more upset than Obi-Wan about the name Jar Jar had given him. "Hi, Jar Jar," he said, crossing his arms. Gonk wondered if Anakin was thinking about using his lightsaber on Jar Jar.

Padmé Amidala and her new assigned guard, Captain Typho, rose from their chairs as Gonk and his party were taken into the main room of Padmé's quarters. Gonk toddled at the back, Qui-Gon gently urging Gonk onward.

Before anyone else could say hello, Obi-Wan swept forward and smiled. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, m'lady," he said.

"Gonk!" Gonk hurried to speak next, bumping into Obi-Wan's legs.

"I was glad to hear you had become a senator," Qui-Gon said. "You continue to serve your people well."

"I'm so glad our paths have crossed again," Padmé smiled. "I thought only Master Kenobi and his apprentice were sent by the Council."

"Oh, yes," Obi-Wan answered. "Gonk and Master Qui-Gon have only come to say hello."

"Gonk," Gonk agreed.

Padmé noticed Anakin lurking behind them, desperate to speak. Gonk sensed it was time Gonk and his Master left the senator with Obi-Wan and Anakin and nudged Qui-Gon with Gonk's boxed body.

In response, Qui-Gon nodded to Gonk then placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. "We shall leave you in the care of my former student and his padawan. Gonk and I have important business to tend to."

"Gonk," Gonk said to Anakin.

"What?" he asked, still looking at Padmé.

"Gonk." Gonk had a bad feeling about this.

"No, no - of course not. She's a senator and I am a Jedi. What I said back then was childish."

But Gonk saw the look in Anakin Skywalker's eyes - Gonk's friend's eyes - and Gonk new that what Anakin had told him about wanting to marry Padmé was still true.