The Jedi who had learned of Amidala's departure in this way immediately went with Anakin and me to the landing platform, where the Queen's transporter was already waiting. Inside the shuttle, there was a tense silence among the Jedi, and I felt distinctly uncomfortable. Most of the time I stared at my feet, wishing I could somehow keep Qui-Gon,Maven and Obi-Wan from being angry with each other.

When we got off the shuttle at the landing pad, R2-D2 and R8-D8 were already busy there. The little droids beeped amusedly at Anakin and me, then rolled to the edge of the ramp to peer down at the traffic.

 Anakin and I cried out softly, but a second later the astromech droids reappeared, propelled back onto the ramp by their own rocket engines. When we heard R2-D2 and R8-D8's annoyed trilling and whistling, we had to smile against our will.

At the end of the loading ramp, Qui-Gon,Maven and Obi Qan were engaged in a heated discussion. Wind whipped through the canyons between the towering buildings of the city, drowning out their words. Cautiously, Anakin and I moved closer to listen.

"It's not disrespect, Master,Maven. It's the truth." Obi Wan told Qui-Gon and Maven with furrowed eyebrows. "From your point of view." Maven answered back sharply with his hands behind his back. "Timothee is dangerous." Obi Wan said bitterly. "They all sense it. Why can't you both?"

Qui-Gon then stopped walking abruptly on his heels right in front of us which caused me to stiffen and turn away from the two Jedi. "His fate is uncertain. He's not dangerous. The council will decide Timothee's future. That should be enough for you." Qui-Gon continued talking to Obi-Wan but in a more hushed voice probably hoping Anakin and I weren't listening. " Now get on board." He then ordered his Padawan.

 Obi Wan was clearly against the decision,but he accepted it and marched toward the ship. Maven shook his head about Obi Wan and followed him in. I glanced over at Anakin before I walked over to Qui Gon."Qui-Gon, sir!"I said to him nervously and guiltily. "I don't want to be a problem."

Qui-Gon put his hand on my shoulder for comfort and assured me that I would not. Then he glanced at the ship before he knelt down in front of me."I'm not allowed to train you, so I want you to watch me and be mindful." He said to me. " Always remember: your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you'll be safe. " I nodded.

 "Master, sir, I heard Yoda talking about midi-chlorians. I've been wondering, what are midi-chlorians?" I asked, relieved to finally get some answers. Qui-Gon smiled slightly at my question. The wind tugged at his long hair and swept individual strands across his face.  " Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life-form that resides within all living cells. " He explained me. "They live inside me? " I asked, trying to understand, to which he nodded.

 "Inside your cells, yes. And we are symbionts with them." "Symbionts?" I asked,confused by the word. "Life-forms living together for mutual advantage. Without the midichlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us,telling us the will of the Force." "They speak to us?" I asked in surprise . Qui-Gon raised a brow.  " When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you." He explained me.

I thought about it for a moment, and then I frowned. "I don't understand that."  "With time and training, Timmy, you will understand. I'm sure you will." He assured me with a smile before he stood up and then pushed me off back towards Anakin just as the queen and her maids reached us.

"Your Majesty." Qui-Gon greeted the Queen with a calm smile. "It is our pleasure to continue to serve and protect you." "I welcome your help." The Queen said with a nod as we all then began making our way towards the ship.

"Senator Palpatine fears the Federation means to destroy me." The Queen informed the Jedi. "I assure you I will not allow that to happen." Qui-Gon then assured the Queen as we all climbed aboard the ship and readied for takeoff.

From outside I heard the sound of feet smacking on the floor and a whoop. "Wesa goin' ho-o-o-me!"I heard Jar Jar yell excitedly. Then there was a loud bang where someone slipped and hit metal. I winced slightly. Poor Jar Jar. Anakin walked straight toward the cockpit of the ship and I followed.With a slight shake, I knew our cruiser was in the air.

"Hello."We greeted the pilot with a small smile and he jumped slightly not having seen us but then greeted us with a warm smile. "Hi there." He then told us as he patting the seats allowing us to climb on beside him. He offering us a hand. "I'm Ric Olié, a starship pilot serving in the Royal Naboo Security Forces."

"I am Timothee and this is my brother Anakin." I answered back as we shook his hand before he then averted his focus back onto the controls. "We're pilots you know." Anakin then told him while he just raised his eyebrow at us. "We are!We're the ones that got you guys the hyperdrive thanks to our flying."

"Well then I should be thanking you then." The pilot then told us before softly ruffling our hair. "Would you like to learn about some of these controls?"Our eyes quickly lit up with excitement as we sat up taller in our seats and leaned forward towards the dash. "Would we!"

We ended up talking for a while, with Ricmostly just showing us how the ship works and what not. That took almost the entire three-hour trip at light speed from Corucant to Naboo. He seemed to be pretty shocked and bewildered by how quickly we was picking up everything. I don't think he entirely believed Anakin when he told him we were pilots.

"Those are the forward stabilizers." He informed us as he pointed towards a switch."And those two are the control pitch?" Anakin and I then asked out of one mouth as we pointed towards a blue button next to the switch. Ric paused for a moment as he flashed us a curious glance before breaking into a grin. "You catch on pretty quick."He said with a chuckle while we just gave him a proud smile in return.

Just before Naboo, Maven and Obi Wan came in to catch up. Anakin and I, meanwhile, were sitting on the floor in a corner. "What's the status?" I heard Maven ask the pilot, and he sat down with him. "I have one battleship on my scope."The pilot answered back . Both Maven and Obi Wan looked. "It's a droid control ship." Both spoke at the same time. The two Jedi exchanged glances briefly.

"They've probably spotted us by now." Panaka added, also sitting down with the two. "We don't have much time." Obi Wan said before disappearing to the back while Maven remained here in the cockpit. "Fly past it and land a little off in the forest." The captain nodded in agreement. The Jedi rose from his chair and ran outside as well.

As he did so, he spotted me next to Anakin, who were wiping away a tear. Obi Wan sat at the table and paid no attention to me. Maven, however, ran up to us and squatted in front of me."Timothee. " He said, putting his hands on my cheeks and wiping the tears from my face with his thumbs.

I looked up at him,sad about not becoming a Jedi like my brother."I know you feel unfair and unjust that your brother is being trained as a Jedi and you are not. But Qui-Gon promised that you would become a Jedi, so you will. I have no doubt about that. He is not one to break promises." He smiled a little encouragingly at me, which worked. I nodded.

"Where exactly are we going, Maven?" Anakin asked then from beside me. "To the planet Naboo. We are at war. The Queen has just made a very difficult decision. The Naboo do not believe in fighting. They are peaceful." He explained us. "Anakin and I will help." I said cheerfully. Maven reached over and ruffled through my hair. Then he gave Anakin a pat on the shoulder "I'm sure you will." He said softly. Then he stood up and walked over to Obi Wan.

When we landed, Jar Jar led us directly to the city oft he Gungans. We walked through the dark muddy forest and finally arrived at a cold blue lake. I kept turning up my nose at the smell and the mud. Jar Jar told us that the city was under water, so he dove underwater and we waited a few minutes before he came back up.

The Queen, Padme, Anakin, R2,R8 and I and the other maids watched from as mall distance as Jar Jar emerged again to talk to the Jedi and Captain Panaka. I tried to pick up a few words, but I did not succeed. At some point we heard Jar Jar screech; "Mesa show you! Mesa show you!" And decided to follow the rest of the group.Pilots and soldiers brought up the rear.

We trudged along the trail for another while until we were intercepted by a couple of Gungans riding deer-like animals. "Nichse again, Jar Jar." Was a Gungan the first to look at us. "Sir." Walked Maven forward and looked up at the Gungan. "Queen Amidala of Naboo wishes to bspeak with your boss and you will take us to him." He applied the Jedi mind trick before any of us even had a chance to respond.

 "Mesa bring Queen Amidala to the Bosses." He agreed and rode ahead. Maven put on a proud grin, which did not escape Obi Wan.Shaking his head, he followed him to the secret camp Jar Jar had been talking about all along, as did all the rest of us.

"Your Honour, Queen Amidala of the Naboo." One of the Gungan Generals introduced as once we arrived. "Ah, ello dare, ye big Boss Nass,You Honor." Jar Jar couldn't keep his mouth shut. A deep sigh escaped Obi Wan. I stood beside him and looked up at the one responsible for all the Gungans. His dark yellow beady eyes darkened when he saw Jar Jar.

"Jar Jar Binks." The Gungan sneered in a low voice as he placed his hands on his hips. "Who's da uss-en uthers?" "I am Queen Amidala of the Naboo. I come before you in peace." The Queen answered in a polite but brave tone.

 "Ah, Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen da Mackineeks. Yousa all bombad!" The King of the Gungans sneered, but there was a littlesound of defiance and jealousy in his voice. "We have searched you out because we wish to form an alliance." The Queen started again, but was interrupted when Padme suddenly stepped forward.

"Your Honour." She then called out to the Boss while Anakin and I shared equally confused looks. The Boss made a tacky ticking sound with his cheeks as he shook his head in disapproval at Padme."Whosa dis?" He asked. "I am Queen Amidala." Padme then exclaimed, and my mouth dropped open in utter shock as I absolutely had no way of seeing that one coming.

 I was embarrassed. All this time she had been a queen and I had wasted her time. I had offered her the rotten fruit - pallies - and taken her to the sandy home. Why had she spent time with me at all?Did she feel sorry for me? I didn't need her pity! And yet it felt so honest, so right, when I was near her.

 "This is my decoy, my protection, my loyal bodyguard." Padme explained as she motioned towards the girl we all thought was the real Queen. "I'm sorry for my deception, but it was necessary to protect myself."Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Obi Wan turn his gaze briefly to his master and then look to Maven, who had also known all along. The young Jedi however, seemed very surprised by this.

"Although we do not always agree, Your Honour, our two great societies have always lived together in peace.The Trade Federation has destroyed all that we have worked so hard to build. If we do not act quickly all will be lost forever. I ask you to help us. No." She then said as her voice quickly changed to that of vulnerability as she dropped to her knees,which all the rest of us did the same. "I beg you to help us. We are your humble servants. Our fate is in your hands."

The Boss watched our group for a while with his eyes narrowed and stroking his chin as he hummed. The seconds seemed to last for ages while the Boss just stared at all of us and I begin to squirm uncomfortably. The Boss then let out a loud booming laugh at all of us.

He then doubled over on his knees in laughter while I furrowed my eyebrows and looked over at Maven as if to ask what in the universe was going on. Maven just raised an eyebrow at the sight while the Boss continued to laugh hysterically. "Yousa no think yousa greater den da Gungans?" The Boss then asked Padme while she shook her head no furiously.

"Me-e-esa like dis!" The Boss then exclaimed as his eyes softened and Maven sent me a smile."Maybe . . .wesa . . . bein friends." The Boss said before his face turned into a wide smile and he shook his head furiously as a funny sound emitted from him in his declaration. . I couldn't help but giggle at the sight while the Gungans and our group broke out in cheers.