Chapter 26

Renn, Yaddle, and Alpha were seated in a quite garden inside the jedi temple, looking at the calming scenery.

"Your grandmother never wanted to visit the jedi temple, not that I blame her, but this is my favourite spot in the whole temple, and I was always sorry I never got to show it to her. I'm glad you have had the chance to see it though." Yaddle said to Renn looking at him with a kind smile on her face.

"My grandmother told me about you, but she described you differently." Renn said smiling at the Jedi.

"Oh, and how did she describe me?"

"She said you were about eight foot two and built with enough muscle that you could probably tear through the hull of a destroyer with your bare hands."

Yaddle looked at Renn in shock and could almost picture her old friend telling her grandson those lies and laughing.

"She also said you were one of the wisest and kindest people in the galaxy. I think she was telling the truth about that." Renn said smiling at her.

"Thank you young one, your grandmother always did have a strange sense of humour." Yaddle told him, a sense of happiness filling her.

After she had learnt that a jedi had orchestrated the massacre of house Dredd in an attempt to become a jedi master Yaddle had been horrified, as had other members of the council. She had argued furiously with the council when they had decided to cover up the incident rather than do anything about it, but she was ultimately overruled.

Yaddle had then left on her own to try and find the survivors of house Dredd in defiance of the councils ruling. She had found the remnants of house Dredd and their leader, the ten-year-old Lilk Dredd, who would later become Renn's Grandmother.

After a Rocky initial meeting Yaddle had eventually made peace with house Dredd and over time became close friends with Lilk. Yaddle reminisced about her friendship with Lilk as she talked to Renn about her. Renn reminded her a lot of his grandmother so talking with him made her think back warmly of the time she spent with her old friend.

Renn and Yaddle sat talking for a while, both absorbed into their own world. Alpha watched them happily, remembering the times Yaddle would visit Lilk and the other members of house Dredd.

Eventually Renn and Alpha had to leave to meet back up with Opal and the others, but Renn promised to keep in touch with Yaddle as he had enjoyed meeting her.

-

Padme was furious. The senate was a corrupt mess, and despite succeeding in calling a vote of no confidence in chancellor Valorum there didn't seem to be anything they would be willing to do to aid Naboo.

Despite senator Palpatine's views that it was a bad idea Padme was getting ready to return to Naboo to try and liberate the planet herself. She new the jedi, Qui-Gon, and his padawan had been dispatched by the council to investigate the sith they had fought on Tatooine by accompanying her so she could count on their support.

She needed other allies as well, which was why she was sitting in her office in her queen outfit and make up looking across her desk at Renn.

It had surprised them all when Renn and Alpha had come back from the jedi temple and with Alpha having given up using a disguise. The fact he had been an assassin droid wasn't something they had been expecting but if Renn had access to advanced droids like Alpha maybe he could help her take back her planet.

"Renn, I would like to request your help in retaking Naboo from the Trade Federation." Padme Requested, she had a speech convinced to try and convince him and was prepared to offer him a hefty reward for his contribution.

"Sure"

"Of course, I know it's a lot to ask—wait what did you say?"

"I said sure I'll help, but for a price." Renn told her.

"Ah-hem, what would it take for you to help us?" Padme asked after clearing her throat.

"I would like a plot of land in the Naboo lake country and a large number of credits, but I'm willing to negotiate on the exact number." Renn said, he had his own plans for restoring his clan and this might help him in starting those plans.

"That is acceptable, your help will be greatly appreciated." Padme told him after they agreed on the amount of credits he would get as a reward.

The queen then returned to her ship to fly back to Naboo, the jedi would be joining her and Renn would meet them there on his own ship.

-

"Soo, we're going to liberate a planet from occupation with the help of some police officers and two space wizards." Opal said looking at Renn after he explained that the queen had hired them as mercenaries.

"That is pretty much it yeah" Renn said grinning

"Coool" Opal said, slightly sarcastically.

Alpha said nothing while the other droids were barley controlling their excitement. Seela meanwhile looked around wide-eyed still not quite used to being surrounded by lunatics quite yet.

The trip to Naboo was filled with preparations for the upcoming fight and Renn, Alpha and Sapphire had made several plans, but they would need to wait until they had the queen's plan before they could come up with a final plan.

-

When they arrived on Naboo they reunited with Padme and the others in the swamps near lake Paonga. The Trade federation had withdrawn most of their fleet from above Naboo and only two Lucrehulk-class Battleships remained in orbit.

Only one of the ships had deployed its droids to the surface of the planet while the second was further out in the system so it could act in reserve in case any problems occurred.

The Queen was currently trying to negotiate an alliance with the Gungans in the hopes to add their army to her efforts to liberate the planet. In an effort to show complete trust to the Gungans Padme stepped forward and revealed the fact she was the queen and the woman currently wearing the queen's outfit and makeup was actually her handmaiden and body double. Most people gathered in the swamp were surprised but a few had figured it out earlier and just shared knowing looks, except one.

"Boom called it" Opal shouted after Padme revealed the news, she ignored Renn's attempts to keep her quiet.

"I told you, didn't I? I knew it, totally knew it." She continued excitedly.

"Yes, you're really smart. Now shut up everyone is staring" Renn told her patting her on the back.

"Oooh, sorry. Please continue, pretend I'm not here." Opal said blushing as everyone stared at her. She began backing up and hid behind Renn who just smiled awkwardly.

Trying to get back on track after the interruption a now embarrassed Padme managed to reach an alliance with an amused Boss Nass, the ruler of the Gungans. They then began planning how to defeat the trade federation and liberate the planet.