Redemption

CHAPTER ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Opal leaned against the stone railing of the courtyard overlooking Naboo, onyx eyes sweeping over the civilization as they went through their daily routines. The Jedi Council had sent her here to work with two Jedi Knights to rescue Queen Amidala from the Trade Federation. Every moment she took breath, her heart was anxiously waiting for the day when the Council appointed her as a Knight and she passed her Trials. That would be the day she finally exceeded the expectations of the liars and hypocrites who sat on the Council and had doubted her since she was a child.

She had refrained from taking revenge against the Jedi since her parents had died, knowing that she still had one more family member in the Jedi Order who cared for her. Her Uncle, Qui Gon Jinn.

Her thoughts drifted to Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of her greatest friends who she had no seen in years. Despite the time lapse, she greatly missed the man who had changed her life when she'd been thrown into the Jedi Order. "Opal!" A baritone voice called out. She turned sharply and grinned as Qui Gon appeared, sheathing his lightsaber and opening his arms to welcome his niece. "Hello, dear niece! It is so good to see you, and so grown up."

Opal pulled her uncle into a tight hug, burying her face in his neck. It had been so long since someone from her family had embraced her out of joy. "It is very good to see you too uncle. It has been a long time since I embraced somebody I cared for so deeply." She peered behind him, expecting to see a young padawan following in his steps. "Where is your padawan?"

"Oh! I'm surprised he hasn't shown his face yet. He's normally so upfront. We just got back from the Invasion, after all. Obi!" Her heart pounded against her chest as a man who looked to be a few years older then her appeared. He was well built and muscular, standing a few inches taller then she was. His physique was, admirable, to say the least. With those piercing eyes and strawberry blonde hair, wearing that familiar look of adoration she'd seen as a ten year old stepping into the training room for the first time. "Come and meet our third ambassador to the Chancellor."

Opal stepped off of the staircase and tilted her head as a breathtaking smile spread across Obi-Wan's face. He parted his lips slightly, both of them eyeing each other intently before he decided to speak. "Do you think I'm powerful?" He murmured, the sunlight glinting against his hair.

She grinned back at him, a genuine smile she had not shown in a long time. " Oh, I have missed you." She breathed. "I think you're magnificent. Never did I think I would be so thrilled to see your face, Kenobi."

Obi Wan eyed his Masters confused expression through his peripheral vision, taking a mental note to explain the relationship created between the two of them so many years ago at a later time. "I'm still going to make it to Jedi Knight before you do, Stone."

Opal snorted lightly as she tossed her braid over her shoulder. "Yeah, and I still can't beat you in a saber duel. It's nice to see that your sarcasm is still fully intact." She retorted. Qui Got tugged lightly on both their arms as he motioned to the castle where the Viceroys were supposedly holding Queen Amidala. "The Viceroys have captured the Queen. It's our job to get her back."

Over the years of being involved with the Council, Opal had slowly become familiar with the affairs of the Senate, thus gathering much knowledge about the current Queen of Naboo. She held a lot of respect for the beliefs Queen Amidala stood for. "Follow Master Qui Gon, Opal." Obi Wan replied, ignoring the Gungan as they snuck through the higher ground walkway to where the small guard along with the Viceroys was carting along the Queen and her hand maidens. "Now!"

The three Jedis jumped off of the balcony, Opal landing in the front and taking lead of destroying the droids around the guard of Queen Amidala. Obi Wan couldn't help but admire how graceful she had become since they'd last seen each other, how precise and even her movements were as she tore through each droid. "Get their weapons!"

Opal turned back to the Queen and smiled brightly. "Hello Queen Amidala, we are ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor.''

"Well, in that case I believe your negotiations seemed to have failed, Ambassador."

Obi-Wan rested a hand lightly on Opal's shoulder as her entire body tensed at the mans snide comment. He knew first hand how Opal reacted when she was directly informed that she had failed at something. She had a tendency to lash out and hurt the people she cared about most.

Not now Opal. We have more important matters at hand.

Opal nodded lightly and follow behind her uncle as they continued through the Palace to the hangar where their transport waited. She stood opposite of Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka as they eyed the occupied space where a battalion of droids waited. "There are too many of them!"

"Under the circumstances, My Lady, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us." Qui Gon chided, eyeing the Queen with a protective expression. It was his duty to keep the Queen of Naboo safe and he wasn't about to fail the Council. Not now.

"Thank you Ambassador, but my place is with my people."

One of the young handmaidens lifted her head as Opal stepped forward, waving her hand in front of the Queens face. "I know what it's like to want to be with the people you care about most, and I know what it's like to be ripped away from them." She responded, her hand resting on the hilt of her lightsaber. "My lady, it is most urgent that you come to Coruscant with us so we can protect you."

Qui Gon lead the group into the hangar, motioning for Opal to stick as close to the Queen's handmaidens as possible. "We need to free those pilots." The Captain spoke, motioning to a group of pilots in the corner surrounded by droids. Opal snorted lightly as Obi-Wan immediately responded to the call, taking off in the other direction. "So, a female Jedi, hm? That's not normal anymore."

"Captain, there are a lot of crazy things going on in this galaxy as of right now. Me being a female Jedi is on the bottom of that list."

Her mind began to race as gunshots rang out, and Qui Gon began barking orders for her to get the Queen's guard and her handmaidens safely onto the transport that would lead them to Coruscant. An overwhelming desire to protect the Jedi freeing the pilots filled her, but she pushed it down as she made precision cuts and slashes into the body of each droid present. This is for my parents.

She yelped as Obi-Wan rushed past her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her body into the transport with Qui Gon following behind shortly. A breathless smile caressed her features as her closest friend stared at her with eyes full of adrenaline. "All these years later, Obi-Wan, and you are still full of surprises to me."

The ache in her heart didn't go unnoticed as she followed him through the ship to where the Captain and her uncle were piloting and taking off for Coruscant. "Believe me, Opal Stone," Obi-Wan whispered, his lips barely grazing her ear. "You have a lot to catch up on."

****

Of all the planets she'd been on, Tattooine was by far the most terrible place to land for people who were not acquainted to the climate. That didn't even account for the sweltering heat that came with it. Opal followed R2-D2 and Jar Jar Binks into a small room where one of the Queen's handmaidens had begun to clean the droid. "You are a very dedicated handmaiden, Miss-"

"Padme. I'm Padme. And you are?"

Opal smiled as she studied the younger girl. For someone so young she seemed very dedicated and in tune with the world around her. "Opal. I'm Opal Stone." She knelt down and gently shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you Padme. I'm glad to have made a friend who isn't a male."

A giggle escaped the young woman lips as she stood, her hand cupping the top of the droid. "I am glad as well," She murmured softly. "It is nice to not have to hide from someone like yourself, one of such authority and stature. Which brings me to my next question.. What are you and the other young Jedi?"

"Obi Wan? We aren't anything. Just old friends. We grew up in the Jedi Temple together. He's very kind to me."

Before she could continue, she felt her uncle coming towards her to confront her, and turned around to speak with him. "Opal, I'm taking the droid and Jar Jar into the Space Port to see about parts to fix the ship. I want you to stay here with Obi-Wan and Captain Panaka. Do you understand?"

She could see the smirk growing on Obi-Wan's face. "Where is he?" She replied, resting her hands on her hips as he pointed to the cockpit where she could see Obi-Wan's ponytail sticking up above the pilot seat. "Are you trying to torture me Uncle?"

Qui Gon grinned at the hard headedness of his niece, who mirrored his brother so perfectly it was almost frightening. "I think you care more about that boy then you would like to admit, which is against the Code, but I won't speak a word of it." She bit her lip as she contemplated entering the cockpit. "At least talk to him, Opal. How much worse could it be?"

She nodded wistfully and shooed him away, entering the cockpit and sitting down beside Obi Wan who was working on examining the hyperdrive. "I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to come and speak to me, Opal Stone." He mused. "It had been a while since we've spoken."

"How much of my life story are you asking to hear, Kenobi?" She replied cooly, kicking her legs up on the dash of the star ship and tilting her head to look at him.

He turned his head as well, stopping her in her tracks with his stunning blue eyes. "Everything after the day you left me to work at passing the Trials."