| Author |
Topic:
Another Story 18/21 [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
|
cadelemartin
Registered:
Mar '08
|
Date Posted:
3/29 7:59pm
Subject:
Another Story 18/21 [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
- Date Edited:
10/24 9:18pm (7 edits total)
Edited By:
cadelemartin
|
Title: Another Story
Author: Christina
Rating: PG
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé Amidala
A/N: I wanted to explore the possibility of the two Jedi arriving on Naboo earlier than in the movie, and how that might change things, for better or for worse. This chapter is the first one, so I hope I do it justice, but I'll be the first to admit it moves kind of fast. Hopefully I'll get a good pace going as the chapters get written. Enjoy!
-
CHAPTER ONE
As the ship descended towards the designated landing area, Obi-Wan Kenobi took in the lush landscape of Naboo. His Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, gently ran his hands over the controls of the ship to ease it into its place as the ground got closer and closer, while also casting a kind look over to his Padawan. “What is it on your mind?”
Obi-Wan blinked and looked to him, “Master?”
“You’ve got that look on your face,” he explained with a wry smirk behind his beard. “Do you not like it?”
“It’s not a matter of liking it, Master.” The young man sighed and returned his gaze back to the bright, green world. “It simply doesn’t seem to be the kind of place you’d expect a slimy criminal to hide.”
“True, and that may be the reason why we’ll find him here, don’t you think?”
“I suppose,” Obi-Wan shrugged, but then caught himself, straightening and nodding. “I mean…yes, Master.”
Qui-Gon chuckled, the ship landing on the platform like a feather on grass. Motioning to the exit, he stood up and walked beside his Padawan as they left the cockpit. “This shouldn’t be too long, a day or two and we’ll be able to find him out there.”
“The Twi'lek didn’t necessarily give us the most specific location of who we’re looking for,” Obi-Wan dryly noted. “We may very well spend days looking for a needle in a—”
“Focus on the present, no need to jump to any conclusions just yet, Obi-Wan.”
“Yes, Master.” He nodded automatically, but as they walked down the ramp and into the landing bay of Theed, the capital, he couldn’t resist the urge to remind his Master, however politely, “You did tell me that you had a feeling—”
“Yes, and we’re fully prepared to defend ourselves if such a feeling turns out to be of something dangerous, but it’s no reason to deter us from our mission, Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan nodded again. “Yes, Master.” After a moment he noticed the direction they were walking in and chose his words carefully. “We…are headed to the Palace?”
“Yes.”
“Are we meeting with the Queen?”
“We don’t have an appointment, but I felt it polite to inform her of our presence.”
“Polite?”
“Of course. It wouldn’t be fair of us to go traipsing around her home without first introducing ourselves.” Qui-Gon looked to his Padawan and then relented (though his tone remained the same): “Besides, doing it this way will erase a lot of possible complications down the line. It’s always nice to be in the good graces of a ruler.”
Obi-Wan mulled it over for a moment. “But…there is the possibility that she won’t give us permission, Master.”
Qui-Gon smiled behind his beard, as he usually did when he was in a mischievous mood. The kind of mood that would often lead to Obi-Wan asking him if they should ask the Counsel first… “Who ever said we were asking for permission?”
“It’s a great honor to have Jedi in our presence.”
Obi-Wan stood just a little ways behind Qui-Gon, with his head bowed forward, as the Queen spoke in her regal tone that echoed a bit in the large, domed room. The ornate nature of her outfit, though beautiful, was quite fascinating in and of itself in that he wondered if at any moment her head might topple to the side from the weight of her headdress.
When he finally lifted his own head back up, he kept his face even as he took in the room once more, getting a feel of it. The architecture of the place was exquisite, but he couldn’t help but wonder how secure the area was.
As the Queen spoke with his Master, she imposed a great amount with just her voice, something that surprised Obi-Wan in a way…she was young, from what he’d heard of the recent election. Naboo was far enough away from the center of the trade routes not to bring too much attention to itself, but the young Jedi could remember seeing a holo-report on a young (but not the youngest) Queen winning a landslide election on a lush, peaceful planet out of harm’s way.
In all her formidable nature, sitting before them decked in regality, Obi-Wan would’ve assumed to be met with a rather robotic-like discussion with the leader. Assumptions were never a good thing to depend on, and this time was no different. Behind all her makeup, he could see a bare smile gracing her painted lips, and a small amount of warmth underlying her voice as she spoke.
His attention shifted to the large window that was positioned behind the Queen; it had a bronze trim and was aesthetic in its own right, but unsettling in how…unprotected it was. Obi-Wan stood a little straighter but stayed where he was as a slight uneasy feeling started to sneak up on him.
“We by no means intend to disturb the planet’s wildlife, of course…” His Master was explaining, but Obi-Wan had his eyes trained on both the Queen and the window.
“I understand. It greatly unsettles me that a kidnapper is roaming free, the last thing I want is for him to bring the people harm.” The Queen nodded solemnly, although it may have just been the makeup that she wore that brought on the graveness. Her voice was heavy, though; strong but burdened. “I wish you luck on your mission, Master Jedi.”
“Thank you,” Qui-Gon bowed his head. He turned to his Padawan when he noticed he wasn’t doing the same. “Obi-Wan?”
It all happened quite fast, and despite his lack of focus on the discussion, Obi-Wan was quick but centered in his instinctual movement towards the Queen. Visions, at least for him, were like a sense of déjà vu but instead it was something that hadn’t happened yet, there was a flash of light in his mind and he was moving towards her. His arm was around her waist just as a blaster bolt shot through the window, pushing her to the side and out of harm’s way as a cloud of shattered glass fell upon the room.
Once the commotion settled down, Obi-Wan slowly stepped back from the slightly startled Queen. “So sorry, M’lady…are you alright?”
Her guards and aids rushed over, past him, to ask the very same thing, so when she responded that she was okay—a little shaken but still standing tall and dignified—her eyes didn’t meet Obi-Wan’s.
A few minutes later, Captain Panaka was waving off the possibility of it being a terrorist attack. “The only way someone could get a shot through there is if they were in that wing over there, and that wing is strictly prohibited to security personnel only.”
“Interesting, to say the least.” Qui-Gon examined the mark the blaster shot had left on the marble floor. “Not a professional assassin, I believe, but he’s got a good enough shot. There’s a man who wants to harm the Queen still in the Palace or the very least still in Theed, Captain Panaka. If he managed to disguise himself as one of your guards without bringing attention to himself, then it’d be best to find him before he tries again.”
Obi-Wan approached his Master outside. “Are we on our way, then?”
“No, a small change of plans.”
“Master?”
“You will stay behind, Obi-Wan, and look after the Queen.” Qui-Gon kept his eyes on the green, hilly horizon just outside of the city, but his Padawan could sense him somewhat motioning in the Force to the security forces that were gathering inside. “They’ll be doing an investigation into the matter and until then, leaving her alone with a guard—who, unfortunately, may very well be apart of a conspiracy to bring her harm—is not an option until said investigation is completed.”
“And you will continue ahead with the mission?” Obi-Wan inquired and when the older Jedi nodded, he did his best to keep an even voice. “Have you…consulted the Counsel about this, Master?”
“No, there is no need,” he replied, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. “I will continue our assigned mission, and you will provide aid to the planet’s monarch while I do so. The mission will still be accomplished, so there is no need to inform the Counsel.”
“Yes…yes, Master.” Obi-Wan gave up trying to convince him otherwise, and folded his hands over one another in front of himself, turning to face the entranceway of the Palace, where he’d be spending his time for the next few days. He let out a sigh. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
cadelemartin
Registered:
Mar '08
|
Date Posted:
3/29 8:00pm
Subject:
RE: Another Story [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
|
CHAPTER TWO
There was something a bit amusing about the way she tried to dismiss him from her office and he had to fight a smile back when he, as courteously as he could manage, simply refused to do so.
“Until the security investigation is over, M’lady, I’m afraid I won’t be going anywhere, as it’s my assigned duty to make sure you stay safe.”
The formality of it all sounded rehearsed even then, because it was. From what he’d read up of the Queen and her beliefs, he did have respect for her, but Obi-Wan had also become quite proficient at sounding absolutely convincing when he needed to be.
It worked; she allowed his protection of her to continue. And he swears his life on this; there was a ghost of a smile behind her maquillage as she thanked him for his concern.
“Since you are pro tem in charge of my safety, do not hesitate to say what is on your mind.”
They walked down the grand hallway as she spoke to him, her handmaidens accompanying her and Obi-Wan as they walked toward a destination he was trying to learn of.
“As you wish,” he replied on reflex. He let a moment pass before doing just that. “I’m sorry for intruding on your day to day life, I know it must not be what you were planning on.”
“No, it is not.”
“But I suppose we should try to get through this, honestly. The investigation should not take long, Panaka seems proficient; and my Master will return by tomorrow, at the latest. Then you can go back to your routine and I can go back to mine…” He glanced over at her; the expression on her face gave nothing away, so he added just for the sake of it a cordial ‘M’lady.’
They turned a corner. “I appreciate your candidness.”
Obi-Wan returned his attention to walking. “May I ask where we’re going?”
“You want to avoid drawing attention to yourself. If the man who tried to harm me sees me surrounded by guards or, worse, a Jedi, he may not take another chance, and we may not have another chance at capturing him.”
Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks, “And you’re choosing now to make me aware of this…plan of yours? When did you decide this?”
“I discussed it with Captain Panaka—”
Obi-Wan stopped himself before he said anything rash, feeling a budding frustration at the edges of his emotions. He inhaled and then exhaled, letting the negative energy flow out of him before continuing. “M’lady, I would appreciate it if you would consult me on these kind of matters. It can lead to complications if I’m not inform—”
“I trust Captain Panaka with my life and while I don’t doubt your intentions, I would appreciate it if you allowed me to confide with whom I see fit.”
Obi-Wan half-nodded, half bowed his head, slightly taken aback by the vexation in her voice. “I apologize.”
He could feel the Queen’s eyes on him as he exited the room in civilian clothing. Even as they continued to walk, he felt that she was very aware of his discomfort, and his dissent.
“What is it?” She asked, although it was when she finally looked away and kept her eyes forward.
“I know you have this small trip to make.” To the orphanage, which was good, of course, yet it didn’t stop him from continuing. “But it would be best if you didn’t go out today, M’lady.”
“The attempt was made while I was here, within these walls—how am I any safer here then out there? At least this way I can continue my duties.”
“Yes, but—”
“I visit the orphanage every week, it may be demoralizing if I simply decide it is not important any more.”
“It’ll be quite up there as well if you end up getting yourself killed, too.” She didn’t shoot him a look but, like his Master, he could very much feel in the Force surrounding them her growing irritation.
They stopped at the entrance the private hangar and Obi-Wan laid his eyes on what they would be taking. The ships the Queen took were all of a metallic build, and this one was no different. A mini-spaceship of sorts, a luxury class only it seemed a lot sturdier than it gave on.
“There’s a deflector shield on it when security is at high alert. Which it has yet to be, until now. No blaster can penetrate it, I will be safe.” She walked towards the ramp—surprisingly fast, considering how much her outfit may weight—and stopped at the foot of the ship, turning to Obi-Wan. “Like I said before, it appears to me that your presence is unnecessary.”
“Nonetheless,” Obi-Wan walked up the ramp and double-checked the entrance before holding out his hand. She politely declined the offer and walked inside the ship, past him. To her retreating back, he said: “You really should get used to people worrying over your safety, M’lady. You are the Queen of Naboo.”
“Exactly, and it is my duty to have the best interests of the people be my top priority. I am not reckless, I am taking precautions, but this paranoia you seem to be drowning in is doing nothing but slowing me down. I cannot spend my reign living in fear.”
The pilot walked into the cockpit and started up the engines as Obi-Wan followed her into the main cabin where she sat down. Sitting across from her (while the handmaidens quietly filed back further), he let out a small sigh.
Then the ship took off and he instinctively grabbed the arm of his chair as everything shook for a moment before smoothing out. It was when he relaxed that he realized he’d been keeping his eyes closed ever since the engines started. The Queen smiled—a slightly peculiar smile in that her lips were white save for the red marking in the middle of her bottom lip, but it was quite nice all the same—across from him.
“A Jedi afraid of flying?” The other handmaidens did a remarkable job of suppressing their own amusement further back in the ship. Obi-Wan shifted in his seat to sit up straighter.
“I’m not afraid of flying,” he corrected. “I simply don’t like it.”
“It’s a strange feeling.”
He sensed the Queen would’ve turned to look at him as they walked out of the ship, but the heaviness of her dress didn’t permit it. “What is?”
“Well, we’re out in the open but I feel—” He patted down the tunic, unsure. “Here it is, broad daylight, and I feel like I’m still hiding, if that makes any sense.”
She looked over at him, nodding. “It does.”
Obi-Wan resigned himself to accepting his momentary ignorance—of course it would make sense to her, look at her. There she was walking towards the orphanage, a symbol of the love she had for her people, and the weight of her outfit made her movements stiff. Underneath though, if he focused enough, he could make out the woman underneath it all who wanted to walk differently—smoother, a more graceful amble.
It wasn’t pity he felt for her—Queen’s weren’t meant to be pitied—but it was still something along those lines.
“I’m just used to my Jedi robes, I suppose.” He offered it as leeway to take the conversation in a different direction, only to have her remain silent for quite a while.
But just as thoughts seemed to linger into his mind—that sense of dread that always crept up like a cold breeze altering him of a coming chill—the Queen did finally speak. “Is something wrong?”
“I just…” Obi-Wan looked around as casually as he could manage. The handmaidens remained at their usual position surrounding the Queen, while he flanked her a few standard meters away, to not draw attention to himself. “I have a bad feeling, that’s all.”
“The assassin?”
“Maybe, or...”
“Something else?”
“I don’t know, M’lady. In my robes I’m a Jedi, I’m Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. But in this outfit…I’m someone else. I just hope I’m not disguised as someone who might have enemies.”
“So you fear that while your attempt is to merely blend into society, instead you may be bringing out unintended complications?”
Obi-Wan nodded. “I may look normal, indiscreet, now. But to another man, a man I don’t immediately suspect of anything, I may resemble someone who has done him wrong in the past, someone he may feel inclined to seek revenge against.” He glanced her way. “And Jedi do not fear, M’lady.”
“Then…it is merely a concern?”
Obi-Wan allowed himself a smirk at her almost playful tone. “You can say that, yes.”
“I thought Jedi were only supposed to remain concerned, if at all, with the present. That’s what I gathered from your Master, at least.”
“We are and I shall. I find it difficult at times but I always heed Master Qui-Gon’s teachings, of course.” He could hear his Master’s words, knowing that if he were here he would ask him to remain in the present. He almost smiled at how Qui-Gon’s words were cemented into his memory. “I won’t let my concern color my perceptions of the present, but that doesn’t mean I should completely ignore it, either.”
“Is there something else troubling you, though?”
Obi-Wan looked over to her through the small flock of handmaidens—there was an earnest depth to her eyes that was impossible to ignore. “Yes. A disturbance in the force. I can’t determine what it is exactly, which is the unfortunate thing. We really shouldn’t be out in the open like this.”
“I do this frequently.”
“Yes, but up until now no one’s made an attempt on your life, M’lady. Your safety is vital. You can visit the orphanages another day, a safer day. You will do your people no good by getting yourself killed.”
“Why did you let me come out here in the first place, then?”
“You put up quite an argument. And I believed I would, to the best of my abilities, be able to keep you safe. But now I’m not quite as sure, and there’s no reason to risk it.” He stopped in his tracks. “Come on, let’s go.”
Again, it all happened quite fast, but Obi-Wan remained levelheaded. Attuning himself to the Force on instinct, he gave himself the ability to at least create the illusion of time slowing as he reached for his lightsaber and ignited it, putting himself in front of the Queen and holding his weapon in block form. A blaster bolt collided with the blue light and was reflected right back at wherever it had come from. Meters away a dark figure was hit, falling down from the roof he’d been hiding on.
Obi-Wan turned to the Queen, “Are you alright, M’lady?”
“Impressive,” she said to him as she nodded, breathless in her surprise. “Is that the disturbance you sensed?”
“I believe so.” He made his way over to the injured man—a human with dark hair and sweaty skin—and turned him over. When the Queen and her handmaidens, along with a few security personnel who’d arrived at the orphanage entrance a while before they did, he asked aloud: “Do you recognize him?”
“No, I do not.” She tried to move closer to the man, despite Obi-Wan holding out an arm to stop her. “Who are you?”
The man laughed, teeth stained red from blood. “Names, they don’t matter. At least…!” He hissed in pain. “Mine…mine doesn’t matter.”
Obi-Wan knelt down and spoke in a deliberately slow, calm voice. “Who sent you?”
Again the man laughed, in between coughs and sharp inhales. “You’ll—you’ll see!”
The man had been brought in for questioning, but died while in his cell after somehow, inexplicably, consuming a lethal poison. An hour later, in the room he was staying in—just down the hall from the Queen’s chamber, for security purposes—he was awoken from his meditation by a ding announcing someone was on the other side of his door.
Getting up, he walked over and opened it to find one of the Queen’s handmaidens standing tall but with a smile pulling at the corner of her lips. “Master Jedi.”
“Only a Padawan,” he corrected politely, automatically. “What is it?”
“The Queen would like if you joined her for dinner.”
She would? He almost said in surprise, but kept his composure. “Doesn’t she have a dinner with representatives to attend?”
“It had to be rescheduled at the last minute—communications are acting up, otherwise we would’ve known sooner.” The handmaiden gave him a knowing look, “The Queen would hope for you to join her anyways, she was quite adamant.”
“Yes, of course,” Obi-Wan nodded.
“Thank you,” Obi-Wan said after being escorted to the dining hall and even his soft tone seemed to echo somewhat. Walking over to the table, he sat down and waited. When the doors on the other side of the room opened, he stood up immediately. The Queen entered and he found himself smiling and not just to be polite.
The dress wasn’t as elaborate as the others he’d seen her dressed in, but there was still a awareness of formality to the way she entered the room and sat down at the opposite end of the, frankly, very long table.
“Thank you for joining me.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t hear you from all the way down here,” he jokingly replied as he sat back down as well.
Later, as they enjoyed appetizers, the topic of politics came up.
“Well, I don’t necessarily consider you a politician, M’lady.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“A good thing,” he nodded. “In all sincerity, M’lady, I mean it as a compliment…the highest of compliments.”
She seemed surprised at that. “You do?”
“I hear the way you speak of your people, see the way you look at everyone and everything…you care for this planet very much. Where politicians are self-serving, you’re self-sacrificing. There’s a lot to admire, unlike those in the Senate where it takes great effort just to tolerate them.”
“Well, I have to say I am glad you don’t consider me a politician, because it seems as if you don’t like them.” A moment passed. “I would like to apologize, Obi-Wan.”
It had been the first time since he met her that she’d said his name and it startled him at first, but he recovered by the time he looked up at her from his plate. “Apologize?”
“For my behavior earlier. I should not have acted the way I did towards you.”
“You had someone out to kill you, I think you had a right to be—”
“Scared?” she finished, an ironic smile touching her lips. “I would think as Queen I should follow the Jedi example and not give in to fear. You make it look easier than it truly is, Obi-Wan.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he assured her.
“I didn’t offend you?” she asked, her tone almost—almost—vulnerable.
“Not really. I just figured you didn’t like me.”
When she realized he was kidding, seeing the smile on his face, she laughed. And by the Gods, if her saying his name had taken him by surprise, he couldn’t find the word to describe how he felt when he heard her laugh for the first time.
“That’s…” The regality in her voice was fading, but he could sense her grasping onto it—why she clung so much to the mirage of being a cogent, even-voiced sovereign, he did not know. Her eyes remained on her wine glass for the longest time, as if she were searching for a word. A few more laughs bubbled up, and when she finally looked away—up at him ever so briefly and with a smaller smile adorning her face—she remained silent.
“Why aren’t you like this in front of others?” Obi-Wan asked; the words slipping past his lips without much thought other than he just really wanted to know why—even if there was probably an obvious answer awaiting him.
She met his eyes, expression unreadable for a moment, but the brown depths of her own eyes were full of a lot of things. “I could ask the same of you.”
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
cadelemartin
Registered:
Mar '08
|
Date Posted:
3/29 8:01pm
Subject:
RE: Another Story [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
|
CHAPTER THREE
Morning sun soaked the meeting room in golden light and the back of Obi-Wan’s neck was warm as he stood with his head bowed. The Queen was discussing things with her advisors—trivial stuff to him, but things that kept the planet from falling apart on a day-to-day basis—while he remained quiet.
That is, until the topic of the man who sought to harm her came up. Captain Panaka stepped forward and addressed the Queen rather grimly. “With him dead, there’s very little leeway left to us in finding out who is behind all of this.”
The Queen mused over that for a moment, before replying evenly. “I sense that this was something trivial collating collaborating with something far bigger to come. A distraction, to keep us unfocused.” She allowed a moment for that to sink in with everyone in the room. “What do you think, Obi-Wan?”
Though surprised at her use of his name (and he could feel her somewhat tensing at the slip), Obi-Wan raised his head. “Unfortunately, M’lady, the future is very clouded. I do sense a disturbance but…” He looked to Panaka and her other advisors. “We’ll just have to proceed with caution.”
Panaka nodded and turned to his team, “We’ll need to have the shields full up be—”
“Sir, the power still hasn’t been fully restored.”
Panaka sighed and threw a slightly irritated look to Obi-Wan. “Sabotage, a few days ago.”
“So I’ve heard.”
He turned back to his subordinate. “Why hasn’t it been repaired yet, you were supposed to immediately call the—?”
“We’ve tried to contact the repair guild to see what the delay is but it seems as if communications are still acting up, sir.”
“Still?” The Captain breathed in disbelief. He looked to the Queen, not wanting to waste more time than he had to. “We’ll look into this immediately, M’lady. Would you like to return to your chambers?”
“Yes, of course. Do come to me when any new information arises.”
Obi-Wan held out a hand for her to take as she stood up, which she ignored. He did his best not to grin as he escorted her out of the room.
As soon as they were through the doors, Obi-Wan turned to her. “M’lady, if I may suggest something…perhaps when this situation is resolved, you would like to visit the Garden District.”
The stiff posture of the Queen melted a little at the suggestion. “I’ve wanted to visit there for so long now…”
“I sensed that,” he admitted. “Recently things just seem to be incredibly stressful for you and I thought you would like at least a moment of respite.”
“You would come with me?”
“I am your bodyguard.”
Just as she was opening her mouth to reply, another guard approached. “M’lady, there is a Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn requesting entrance.”
“Allow him in, of course.” As the guard departed, she looked Obi-Wan. “Your Master is going out of his way to be polite, I see.”
“Qui-Gon usually doesn’t have the patience for such matters. You should be flattered.”
“It would be rude of me otherwise,” she said back, under her breath, as Qui-Gon turned the corner. “Master Qui-Gon, it is good to see you return safely.”
“I should say the same. I sense that you found your criminal?”
“Your Padawan was of great assistance,” her eyes connected with Obi-Wan, but for only a moment, as she spoke. “I am in his debt.”
Obi-Wan smiled briefly before responding with a polite nod. “I was simply doing my duty, M’lady.”
He could feel Qui-Gon’s stare on him for a long moment before the Queen spoke again. “Did you have any luck in finding what you were looking for?”
He shook his head, “Regrettably, no.”
Obi-Wan looked to his Master for clarification. “Will we be retracing our steps then?”
“That is the plan,” Qui-Gon nodded.
His eyes moved to the Queen before he could stop himself, and he turned his head downwards to disguise the action, hoping his Master wouldn’t notice.
Later, as the sun waned from the sky, they congregated together once more, this time with the Qui-Gon’s added presence.
“Will you be leaving tonight, Master Jedi?”
“In the morning,” Qui-Gon clarified, and then went on to speak at length. “A…disturbance in the force leads me to believe that leaving before then would be premature.”
“What do you sense?”
“Something troubling. Indefinable, but unsettling nonetheless.”
Obi-Wan’s brow furrowed at the confirmation in his Master’s words that the disturbance he had felt earlier was something to be concerned with. “Is the power back up?”
“Temporarily,” Captain Panaka supplied. “We’re being careful not to rush into any decisions, such as transporting the Queen to one of our designated safe houses. The sabotage of power, the unstable communications…it can’t all be a coincidence. Whoever is behind this is most likely forcing us to make a move, to walk right into their hands.”
“That seems to be the wisest decision,” Qui-Gon said in approval. “But if you wait too long, you may end up cornered.”
“We have the necessary resources to protect our Queen if such a thing happens.”
“Not with the power’s stability fluctuating,” Obi-Wan pointed out. Before anyone could shoot him a look, the lights flickered to emphasize his point.
“We’ll tread carefully,” Qui-Gon explained. “If nothing happens by morning, then I’m afraid our duty will be taking us somewhere else.”
His Master bowed and so Obi-Wan followed suit as the Queen bid them farewell. When he lifted his head and turned, he met her eyes for a brief moment before leaving the room.
There was a lingering sense of missed opportunity in their departure come morning, and it clouded Obi-Wan’s mind to an unnerving degree. So he meditated, finding his center, calming himself, and finding some comfort in a budding feeling that destiny, the Force, would let him see her again in the future.
The door slid open and Qui-Gon entered—still as calm as usual, but with an edge to his moment, only the slightest. Obi-Wan stood up, “Master, where have you—?”
“Come with me,” he walked back out and his Padawan quickly followed. “It seems as if a blockade is surrounding the planet and that the Trade federation is responsible.”
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged looks; the younger Jedi couldn’t help but observe: “A blockade? That’s a brash move, even for them.”
“Do not underestimate the Trade Federation’s lack of subtlety, Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon said to him in a dry tone. “You’ll only find disappointment.”
When the Queen finally managed to get through the blocking signals, the hologram of Senator Palpatine appeared before her. She calmly explained the situation and within the hour, the Chancellor and Jedi Council were informed.
The room was tense, moonlight illuminating the room. He eventually caught himself watching her intently—that is, until she would look his way, and he’d quickly avert his eyes to a more submissive, respectful downward gaze while she spoke.
The hologram of Master Yoda grabbed his attention within moments, however, as he assigned the two Jedi to take a shuttle up to the base station for negotiations.
“Perhaps peaceful deliberations will alleviate this mess,” the Chancellor supplied from his end.
As they approached the hangar bay, the Queen came to a stop and regarded the two Jedi. “I wish you luck on your mission.”
“We’ve dealt with the Trade Federation before,” Qui-Gon assured her. “I have the greatest confidence that these negotiations will be short.”
“That is good to hear and I appreciate your help greatly.” When he motioned for Obi-Wan to come with him into the hangar, she made a request: “Is it alright if I speak with your Padawan for a moment, Master Qui-Gon?”
He thought it over for a moment, looking from one to the other, and Obi-Wan kept an even face until his Master nodded and turned out of the hall.
The Queen wasted no time in saying what was on her mind. “Be careful, Obi-Wan.”
“I won’t be long,” he gave her a reassuring smile. He reluctantly took a step back and bowed, even turning his feet to go, but he stopped halfway and looked back at her. He pushed aside his confusion on the connection he felt to the Queen and how much he did want to return safely, just to keep a promise. He’d have to meditate on it earlier, even seek counsel from Qui-Gon or Yoda, but for the moment, he kept his smile steady. “We’ll go to the Gardens when I get back.”
As the shuttle exited the atmosphere and was surrounded by the blackness of space, Obi-Wan let out a sigh. “I have a bad feeling about this…”
“You say that far too much, my young Padawan.”
“I apologize, Master, but…” Obi-Wan hesitated before letting himself continue. “I don’t choose to feel disturbances in the force.”
“True. But like I said, Obi-Wan, I believe these deliberations will be quite short.”
No more than a standard hour later, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan ended up in the hanger bay of the base station while the blaster shots that were after them disappeared. They quickly hid behind a stack of crates while a group of droids the size of an army marched in line with one another.
“I told you they’d be short,” Qui-Gon whispered wryly.
Obi-Wan looked to his Master. “I told you I had a ba—!”
Qui-Gon lifted his hand as a signal for his Padawan to stop talking before he pointed to where the droids were marching. “That ship is our way back onto the planet.”
Having a moment long enough to catch his breath for the first time since arriving back on the planet, Obi-Wan soaked in his surroundings in the swampy forest. His Jedi tunic stained with mud and sweat at his hairline, he then regarded the alien, the Gungan, unimpressed. “Who’s this?”
“Mesa Jar-Jar Binks!”
“Right,” Obi-Wan waved him off, turning to Qui-Gon. “We need to warn the Queen, Master.”
“Yes, but traveling on land that is riddled with those…” He pointed to the large ship that had nearly crushed him and Jar-Jar. “Will not only be a dangerous decision, but it’ll ensure our travel to be slow.”
“We’ll end up getting ourselves killed like the lot of his kind,” Obi-Wan muttered, jutting his thumb over his shoulder in Jar-Jar’s direction.”
The Gungan awkwardly brought attention to himself to clarify. “Uh…mesa no thinkin thatsa trues.”
“What do you mean?”
Obi-Wan shifted in the seat of the bongo as they departed from Otoh Gunga, “At least we got transportation out of that disastrous meeting.”
“Looks as if our friend was at least somewhat of a help to us, Obi-Wan. Be thankful for that.”
Later, back in Theed, the two Jedi (and their companion) quietly made their way through the city. Seeing the Trade Federation’s presence was of no surprise to them, but Obi-Wan did feel a surge of absolute relief as he and Qui-Gon knelt on an arch over a street and caught sight of the Queen, unharmed, being escorted somewhere with her entourage by droids. Silently confirming with his Master the plan, Obi-Wan knelt patiently, waiting for the right moment to…
Jump! He could hear his Master say to him through the Force and he did just that, flipping over the railing and landing on his feet, blue lightsaber igniting while in the air and slicing through the nearest two droids. Within moments he and his Master dealt with the remaining ones.
As his blade disappeared into its hilt, the young Jedi looked to the Queen and gave her a big smile. “I told you I wouldn’t be long!”
CHAPTER FOUR
Standing in the Queen’s chambers aboard the Naboo Spacecraft, Obi-Wan retained a calm composure on the outside, but inwards he was confused. Once the tension of making it through the blockade had subsided, there had been…a shift, something changed in the atmosphere around him, and he had yet to quite pinpoint it. And watching the Queen with rapt attention, he could only determine that the shift stemmed from her.
Having your planet under the control of an enemy, their lives in danger with every second you get further and further away…I’m sorry. She was strong in the force and he hoped she could hear his thoughts in some way—but she gave no sign to any such thing, her eyes focused on the little blue droid that had wheeled in along with them.
“What is its number?”
Panaka scraped some debris off of metal plate on the droid’s side before reporting to her that the droid was an R2-D2.
The Queen thanked the droid, smiling gratefully at him. A different smile, Obi-Wan noted; the trouble her people were in was really weighing on her. “Padmé!”
A young handmaiden broke away from the rest, walking forward and bowing before her Majesty. Within moments the Queen ordered her to clean up the droid, as it deserved their gratitude. The young woman nodded from beneath her warm-colored hood and moved back. As she did, oddly enough, she looked up to Obi-Wan, though very briefly, and caught his eyes. And then she was back with her fellow handmaidens.
Before he could ponder that, the continued decision brought him back to the present. Qui-Gon himself stepped forward and explained that they were heading for a remote planet called Tatooine…
Obi-Wan entered the main area of the spacecraft a little while later, heading to recheck the damaged hyper-drive when he realized he wasn’t alone. Turning, he could see the young handmaiden from before kneeling beside the R2-D2 droid and conversing with the credulous Gungan.
“Jar Jar,” Obi-Wan said as he calmly walked up to them.
“Sorry, nomeanen to…”
“He was helping me,” the handmaiden spoke up, standing so that their eyes were closer to being level—even if she did still have to look up a bit.
Obi-Wan threw a deliberately unsure glance the Gungan’s way. “Don’t see how he’d be much help, miss.”
The handmaiden looked offended and a little surprised, like she expected more from him. And she said as much, “I thought Jedi were supposed to be kind beings.”
Obi-Wan cocked his eyebrow. “Are you implying they’re not?”
“No, just that you may be the exception.” She knelt down, back to him, and returned to cleaning the droid.
Slightly offended, Obi-Wan knelt down beside her and opened his mouth to argue the point, but when he saw her looking for something she’d misplaced, he reached onto the other side of the droid and held out an oil can. “Is this what you need?”
She almost reached out to grab it from him but stopped herself, regained her calm and nodded, “Yes, it is. May I have it?”
“Sure,” he handed it to her. He took a moment, watching her apply oil to a rag and try to get the debris off the shell of the droid. Her brow furrowed in concentration and he chuckled under his breath.
“What’s so funny?” she asked without breaking her concentration.
“Nothing.” Looking around, Obi-Wan found another rag and grabbed it, pressing it against the case containing some of the droid’s peripheral circuitry and cleaning out the crevices as best he could.
After a while, he could feel her looking over at him. When he finally reciprocated, he expected her to look away like a little girl caught staring did, but her eyes remained on him, to the point where if he didn’t have years of Jedi training under his belt, he might have broken and looked away himself.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, I just…” She looked over to the entranceway to the engine room before her eyes met his again. “Don’t you have better things to do?”
“The hyper-drive will still be damaged in the hour or so it takes us to finish this,” Obi-Wan shrugged, before smirking. “Besides, I’ve got to disprove that implication of yours. I don’t really need a bad reputation hanging over me.”
She smiled a little at that and it was a quite beautiful one nonetheless, reminding him of the Queen. He could see why Padmé was picked as one of her handmaidens, a Queen of such warmth needs to surround herself with people of similar feelings.
They cleaned for a few quiet minutes before Obi-Wan, as smoothly as he could, decided to ask after the Queen. “Is she…alright? It must be very difficult to leave Naboo under such circumstances.”
Padmé lowered her head for a moment before nodding, “It is. She cares for her people so much. This isn’t how she wanted things to happen.”
Obi-Wan felt a sting of sympathy at her words; he could feel the Queen’s sadness even in her handmaiden’s voice. “I have faith that once we get to Coruscant, things will work out as they should.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Obi-Wan assured her before letting out a sigh. “I’m still worried for the Queen—I would hate for her to place blame on herself. I hope I get a chance to speak with her, perhaps…”
“You sound very concerned for the Queen, Obi-Wan. More than a Jedi should, I think.”
She was only teasing, but Obi-Wan stiffened a little at that, realizing what she said was absolutely true. He returned his attention to R2-D2. “I shouldn’t be.”
“Obi-Wan, I was just—”
“No, it’s alright. I really need to just…clear my mind, return to the present. I can’t have my mind elsewhere in case something happens. That would only endanger the Queen and everyone on this ship.”
“Hey…” Padmé actually reached out and placed her hand on his arm, and he looked to her. “Just because you’re a Jedi doesn’t mean you can’t be concerned for a friend. I’m…sure she would love to know you’re thinking of her.”
Obi-Wan knew it wasn’t safe to admit it to himself, but he was quite relieved at that. He smiled at Padmé, “Thank you. You’re very good at being assuring, I see why you have the job that you do.”
“You mean being in charge of cleaning droids?” she joked, and they both laughed. Obi-Wan’s eyes drifted over her face as they did, too, and saw her smile again, bright and beautiful, like a piece of the Naboo sun fell and rested there. It reminded him quite a lot of…
His eyes widened and Padmé seemed to catch on to what he’d realized, pedaling back and looking away from him.
“You’re…” Obi-Wan laughed under his breath. “Padmé, are you—?”
“Obi-Wan,” Qui-Gon entered the room suddenly, sending the young Padawan rushing to stand up straight and address his Master with what he hoped wasn’t a guilty expression.
“Yes, Master?”
“The hyper-drive, is it…?”
“I was just about to check on it, Master.”
Padmé stood up as well, stepping forward. “He was helping me clean the droid. I asked him to.”
Qui-Gon looked from one to the other, his expression even but his eyes giving away a hint of…perhaps suspicion, or maybe it was simply confusion at why they both jumped to give excuses. Neither would help Obi-Wan feel any less unsettled.
Hoisting the hyper-drive out of the floor, Obi-Wan did his best to ignore Jar Jar as he panicked over having to go with Qui-Gon to Mos Eisley.
“Qui-Gon’s right, Jar Jar. You’ll make things appear less obvious.”
Before the Gungan could argue anymore, Qui-Gon entered the room and surveyed the hyper-drive.
Obi-Wan wiped his brow and shook his head, “It’s gone. We’ll need a new one.”
Sighing, Qui-Gon nodded and took in the new development. Before he turned to go, he rested a hand on his Padawan’s shoulder. “No transmissions, we can’t risk it. I…sense a disturbance in the Force.”
“I do as well, Master.”
As Qui-Gon and Jar Jar started their trek across the desert, Obi-Wan returned to the main area of the ship, hoping to meditate and relieve himself of a muddled mind, only to have Captain Panaka walk through the room with…
“Padmé!” The Padawan called out her name before he could help himself—he’d chide himself on the impulse later, but for the moment he approached the two with a questioning look. “What’s going on?”
Panaka sighed wearily, and then nodded as they continued on and exited the ship.
“Wait!” Panaka called after Qui-Gon, just as Obi-Wan called after him and Padmé. They caught up with the Jedi and Gungan and before Obi-Wan could question any of them further, the Captain finally explained. “Her Highness sees fit for you to bring her handmaiden with you. She wishes to observe the local…”
“No more of this,” Qui-Gon calmly turned down the idea.
Obi-Wan kept his eyes on Padmé, trying to get her attention, but she was too focused on the discussion between Qui-Gon and Panaka and blocking the piercing light of the sun from her eyes with her hand.
She spoke up after the discussion continued for too long, “I’m trained in defense, I can take of myself.”
Qui-Gon gave her a stern look before assenting. “This isn’t a good idea…stay close to me.”
Padmé nodded and move to follow him. Obi-Wan stopped himself from reaching out and grabbing her arm and instead called out to his Master.
Qui-Gon turned around with a sigh and seeing the distress on his Padawan’s face, walked with him a little way’s away. “What is it, Obi-Wan?”
“I think it would be best if I went with you.”
“Why is that?”
“With the…” Obi-Wan hesitated—the Queen was disguised for a reason, and blowing her cover would not help matters. “With the handmaiden, perhaps it’d be best if I came along to provide more safety, so you don’t have to be distracted.”
The reason sounded inane even to Obi-Wan.
Qui-Gon simply looked at his Padawan for a moment before shaking his head. “Your job is to protect the Queen. Do your duty, Obi-Wan.”
Obi-Wan looked over Qui-Gon’s shoulder to see Padmé—the Queen of Naboo—waiting to go to Mos Eisley as he stood, feeling as small as a child, unable to go with her. “Yes, Master.”
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
cadelemartin
Registered:
Mar '08
|
Date Posted:
3/29 8:02pm
Subject:
RE: Another Story [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
|
CHAPTER FIVE
Obi-Wan set to keep himself clear-minded as possible following the departure of Qui-Gon and the Queen (and that blasted Gungan). Distractions were easy to come by and, aware of that, he focused on keeping communications regular and following his Master’s few orders.
“The storm is going to slow them down,” he said later, to Panaka, as the winds picked up and the suns glared threateningly down upon them.
There was no doubt in his mind that his Master could handle himself, and Obi-Wan wasn’t about to disobey orders to rush off to give him aid that he very well didn’t need. But the young Jedi, as much as he tried not to, had Padmé on his mind, and the concern he felt for her was teetering dangerously close to clouding his mind completely.
“We better seal the ship,” the captain suggested, just as his comlink sounded. Obi-Wan couldn’t help but be thankful for an excuse to keep his mind off where his concern lay in Mos Espa.
Later that night, though, when Qui-Gon called in about a boy and a unusually high midi-chlorian count, Obi-Wan had yet another thing to categorize and put away, something to breathe out with the rest of his tension in his next meditation.
The next day, Obi-Wan gladly exited the ship to see his Master, Padme and Jar-Jar approaching on eopies. Qui-Gon wasted no time in explaining the situation when he neared, “Get this hyperdrive generator installed. I’m going back to finish some business, I won’t be long.
Obi-Wan held out his hand for Padme to take, which she politely refused, sliding off herself (although he caught a small smile to herself as she did so). He obediently kept his eyes on his Master as he remarked about picking up another pathetic lifeform.
Any dry sense of humor he tried to instill into the comment was wiped away by the tone of his Master, leaving Obi-Wan unsettled. “It’s the boy who got us these parts.”
Once the hyperdrive was brought aboard, Obi-Wan grabbed at the chance to finally speak of what had been on his mind since his discovery and approached Padme. “Why didn’t you—?”
“Don’t,” she said quietly—not a whisper, he noted, her other personnel must know as well. “Please, it’s best this way.”
“We’re here to protect you, Pad—I…M’lady.”
“I know you’re Jedi, you have gifts that I couldn’t begin to understand but,” she sighed. “If you know who is who, you’ll protect who you’re supposed to. I’ve developed this safety measure to avoid being detected. If my enemies see two Jedi protecting me, the handmaiden, they’ll know there’s a switch.”
“Yes, but—”
“It’s a situation with no right answers, Obi-Wan.” Her brown eyes were burgeoning and intense, and his mouth felt a little dry all of a sudden. “Please. The less that know, the better it all is.”
He considered it, considered the options, and looked into her eyes and he could see the love she had for her people, the desire for nothing but their own safety. This wasn’t about her getting out of this without a scratch, this was not allowing the good people of Naboo to have their Queen taken away. His mission was one of peace and her death would lead to nothing but turmoil.
And so he nodded.
“Qui-Gon, he’s in trouble! He says to take off!”
Panaka raced into the cockpit, slightly out of breath, followed by a fair-haired boy and Padme. Obi-Wan regarded them briefly from the before looking to the desert as the ship lifted from the ground. The flashes of blue and red—what felt like a rock dropped in Obi-Wan’s stomach: red?!—were visible with narrowed eyes. He pointed, “Right over there. Fly low!”
Pressing a sequence of buttons, Obi-Wan lowered the ramp in the main area before leaving the cockpit. By the time he—and the boy that eagerly rushed with him—arrived, Qui-Gon was collapsed on the floor at the entry. Dirt stuck to his sweaty skin, and he looked like Obi-Wan had very rarely ever seen him: quite rightly startled.
“Are you okay?” the boy asked, as Obi-Wan knelt beside his Master.
“I think so…” he breathed. “I won’t soon forget thatexperience.”
“What was it?” asked Obi-Wan.
“I…don’t know.” Qui-Gon shook his head, catching his breath. “He was well-trained, though. My guess, he was after the Queen.”
Obi-Wan firmed his jaw and fought off the dread at those words. This wasn’t simply the Trade Federation anymore.
“Do you think he’s gonna follow us?”
“We’re safe enough, or at least once we’re in hyperspace. I have no doubt he knows where we’re going.”
“Well…” The boy’s eyes were wide with amazement and sparkling with determination, and Obi-Wan found himself staring at the boy, wondering who he was. “What are we going to do about it?!”
“We shall be patient,” his Master offered, wisely, and Obi-Wan smiled a little. Then Qui-Gon motioned to him, “Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
The boy shook Obi-Wan’s hand enthusiastically. “Pleased to meet you. You’re a Jedi too, aren’t you?”
Later on, Obi-Wan occupied his time by rechecking the hyperdrive. He took a certain amount of comfort in the strength of the ship, in the certainty of returning to Coruscant soon and for the people of Naboo to receive aid.
A noise from the room through the doorway brought his mind back to the present, and he quietly placed his instruments down before inspecting the source. The ship, for all intents and purposes, was asleep, the lights dim, but when he walked into the main area he could see a figure approaching the monitor near the droid station.
Sio Bibble’s pleadng message lit up the room momentarily, and Obi-Wan could see her face glow. She looked tired, and her face was etched with sadness.
“Padme?” he whispered, approaching.
Padme turned off the monitor with a small, barely audible sigh. He could feel her through the Force fighting inwardly, keeping herself stable and strong. “Something has to be done.”
“And you’ll be the one to do it?” He didn’t intend for it to be a question, but that’s how it came out.
She looked at him at the words and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, actually. I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure this stops at once.”
“I don’t doubt that,” he assured her, stepping forward. “Even if the Senate doesn’t act quickly enough, I see no reason for you to wait to save your people.”
She started to nod, but instead shook her head, something chipping away at her resolve. “I only hope the Senate sees how dire the situation is.”
Obi-Wan could feel the urge to say that they would, but he knew he couldn’t predict that. “We’ll make the situation work, no matter what the Senate decides.”
Her hard expression melted and there was a glint in her eyes. “We’re lucky to have you and Qui-Gon on our side, Obi-Wan.”
“We do what’s right. We do our duty,” Obi-Wan replied. “Politicians are…another matter entirely.”
“You talk about them like they’re heartless.”
“Well…” Obi-Wan shrugged exaggeratingly, and she finally did smile, which brought one to his face as well. “Naboo’s lucky to have you.”
Something in Padme’s eyes followed then, but she blinked and looked away before he could catch it. She almost seemed bashful, but it was so fleeting, and she sucked in a breath and took on another tone before the moment even passed. She didn’t sound professional, but the thickness of her voice from before was gone. “Will you and your Master continue helping us after we get back to Coruscant?”
“Unless the Council requests otherwise.” Obi-Wan looked down to his feet. “I…asked my Master to inquire about it.”
“You did?” Again, that ghost of a smile passing over her face. It was something that made him feel a little less guilty about whatever it was going on with him when it came to her.
“Of course!” Clearing his throat, he evened his voice before elaborating. “It’s hard to leave halfway through this. Our duty is to protect you, so leaving when I don’t believe you’re completely safe would be…a bad decision.”
“To say the least.”
They shared a moment—not quite awkward but silent and filled with Obi-Wan looking for something to say, anything to say, just to keep talking to her. When he opened his mouth to say something, though, Padme’s eyes drifted over his shoulder, catching sight of something.
She walked over to the corner where the boy, Anakin, sat shivering. “Are you okay, Ani?”
“It’s v-very cold.”
Padme moved to take off her overcoat, only to see Obi-Wan holding a blanket. She looked up at him and smiled, whispering a thank you before covering the boy.
“I made this for you,” he said in place of a thank you, his hand poking out from beneath the blanket holding a wooden pendant. “I carved it from a japor snippet. It’ll…it’ll bring you good fortune.”
Obi-Wan could see the sweetness in the gesture but there was that voice in his head, the voice of his Master echoing the words of the boy being special, and the high midi-chlorian count…seeing the way Anakin looked at Padme, he couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of trepidation.
CHAPTER SIX
“We’ll be arriving soon.”
“Good.” Padme looked down at Artoo, running a hand across his dome.
“You’ll be taking him with you?”
“He saved us, didn’t he?”
“An Artoo unit as a bodyguard,” Obi-Wan shook his head, smiling. A moment passed before he spoke again. “My Master and I will be going to speak with the Council after we arrive. I…don’t know what’ll happen after that.”
“You shouldn’t worry,” Padme offered, and he knew she was saying it just because she’d overheard Qui-Gon telling him the same. “Keeping your mind in the present is the best course of action, right?”
“Right,” Obi-Wan nodded, smiling. “I just thought I would tell you. I didn’t want to not be able to say goodbye.”
“It shouldn’t be goodbye, then,” Padme suggested. “Maybe just a…see you later.”
Obi-Wan couldn’t help but smile at that. “All right, then. I’ll see you later, Padme.”
Later on that day, in the Council Chambers of the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan stood quietly behind his Master as he addressed the other Jedi. Cunning Ki-Adi-Mundi, wise Mace Windu and the diminutive but powerful Master Yoda listened intently to the events on Tatooine. The word ‘Sith’ surfaced in the discussion and that drop in Obi-Wan’s gut, cold dread sneaking up on him, returned.
Though calm on the outside, Obi-Wan could sense Mace was equally disturbed.
“Impossible!” Ki-Adi argued.
Yoda closed his eyes for a long moment. “The Republic is threatened, if involved the Sith are.”
Mace shook his head. “I do not believe they could be back, not without us knowing.”
“Hard to see, the dark side is. Find out who this assassin is, we must.”
“I sense he will reveal himself once more,” Ki-Adi supplied.
Mace tipped his head in agreement. “And the Queen is the target. She is still in danger.”
“With this Queen you must stay, Qui-Gon. Protect her, you shall.”
Obi-Wan found himself nodding in agreement to the order.
“We will use all of our resources to solve this mystery and uncover the identity of the attacker.”
The three Masters bowed their heads. “May the Force be with you.”
Obi-Wan bowed as well, moving to leave, but when Qui-Gon stayed put, he paused. “Master?”
Qui-Gon stood tall, confident and calm as he regarded the Masters’. “I have encountered a vergence in the Force.”
“A vergence?”
“Located around a person?”
Nodding, Qui-Gon continued. “A boy. He has the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have ever seen. It’s...possible he was conceived by the midi-chlorians.”
“You’re referring to the prophecy?” Mace inquired and when Qui-Gon nodded again, he brought a hand to his chin and took it in. “You believe it’s this boy?”
“I don’t presume—”
“You do!” Yoda corrected him. “Revealed, your judgment is.”
Obi-Wan watched the entire thing happen, frozen as if afraid to move and cause a ripple in the situation. It seemed delicate, like what was being discussed was literally hanging onto a balance.
“I request the boy be tested.”
It took every ounce of willpower for Obi-Wan to stay put and to not speak—what he’d say, he had no idea. There was too much happening in this room, this moment...
Anakin met with the Council later, and when Obi-Wan stood with Qui-Gon on the balcony just outside the doorway, he finally spoke. “The boy won’t pass the Council’s tests, Master. He’s far too old.”
“Anakin will become a Jedi,” his Master replied, and he said it in that way of his, like it was the absolute truth of the matter, and it frustrated Obi-Wan more then he should’ve allowed.
“Don’t defy the Council, Master,” he pleaded. “Not again.”
“I’ll do what I must, Obi-Wan.”
The young Jedi sighed. “You could be sitting on the Council by now, Master, if you would just follow the code. They won’t go along with you this time.”
The older Jedi turned to regard his Padawan for a moment before facing the sunset across the sparkling, vast city.
“The Force is strong with him.”
“He’s to be trained, then.”
“No,” Mace shook his head. “He will not be trained.”
Obi-Wan glanced to Anakin, seeing tears in his eyes, while Qui-Gon was taken aback. “No?!”
“There is too much anger in him.”
“He’s the chosen one!”
“Clouded, this boy’s future is.”
Qui-Gon took a moment, before folding his arms in front of himself and calmly replying, “I will train him, then.”
Obi-Wan’s mouth dropped open momentarily, and he looked to the back of his Master’s head in surprise. Yoda merely shook his head. “An apprentice, you have.”
“Obi-Wan is ready,” Qui-Gon said without hesitation, and Obi-Wan stepped forward. He brushed past the surprise, and the blind sight, and stood straighter, looking into the eyes of Yoda.
“I am ready for the trials, Master Yoda.”
“Ready so early, are you?”
“He’s headstrong,” Qui-Gon admitted. “He has much to learn of the living Force. But he’s more than capable. There is little more I can teach him.”
“Our own counsel we will keep on who is ready. More to learn, he has.”
Mace merely leaned forward, quietly interrupting the conversation. “Now is not the time for this.”
The fate of Anakin was to be decided later, and so Obi-Wan stepped back into the shadow of his Master as the Council continued their deliberations of the Naboo crisis.
Later, back on the landing dock, Obi-Wan quite clearly spoke his mind. “The boy is dangerous. They all sense it! Why can’t you?”
Qui-Gon spoke to Obi-Wan with finality in this voice. “His fate is not dangerous, only uncertain. The Council will decide his future, that should be enough for you. Get on board.”
Reluctantly, Obi-Wan boarded the Naboo spacecraft with Artoo.
A few days later…
“Yousa no tinken yousa greater den da Gungans. Mesa like dis. Maybe wesa bein friends…”
Boss Nass’ words were the catalyst for the movement that followed on the surface of Naboo, hidden away at the moment from the Trade Federation. It didn’t take long for Padme’s plan to go into motion and with the help of the Gungan’s, it started to look like the outcome would be optimistic.
As everyone filtered to their designated positions, Obi-Wan stayed with his Master, hoping to explain why he hadn’t himself informed him of Padme’s identity. But Qui-Gon beat him to the punch.
“I wonderedwhen she would choose to reveal herself,” he admitted rather simply. “I suppose this was the opportune moment.”
Obi-Wan nearly choked on his tongue. “You knew, Master?”
“Yes,” he nodded.
“Why didn’t you—?”
“She was disguised for a reason, I had to respect the decision.”
“So…you’re not disappointed that I didn’t tell you?”
“You kept her trust by not telling me. I believe that was necessary.”
Obi-Wan did his best to not let out a big sigh of relief. “Yes, Master.”
“But, my young padawan, I sense the concern you have for her.” His Master looked to him not with chiding eyes but simply of…understanding? Obi-Wan couldn’t quite interpret it. “Do not let it define your actions. Attachment is—”
“Forbidden,” Obi-Wan finished in a practiced tone, nodding. “Yes, Master, I agree. My concern for her is only in relation to my duties.”
“Good.” A rueful smile could be seen beneath his beard, and before Obi-Wan could move to the treeline where the rest were, his Master placed a hand on his shoulder and said in a quiet voice. “Personal …matters can wait until after this situation is resolved. We must keep our minds in the present. After, we’ll talk.”
Torn between worry and relief at finally being able to voice his thoughts, Obi-Wan bowed his head. “Y-Yes, Master.”
Just as he had done a moment before, Obi-Wan moved to the treeline, only to stop and regard Qui-Gon once more. “I’m…sorry for my behavior, Master. It wasn’t my place to disagree. I am grateful you think I’m ready for the trials.”
Qui-Gon looked at him for a long moment. “You have been a good apprentice. You are much wiser than I. I sense you will become a great Jedi Knight.”
Just as they were getting ready to leave for Theed, the speeders arriving to transport them, Padme approached Obi-Wan a little ways away from the group.
“Obi-Wan…” she grabbed his arm, and the contact kept him glued to the spot. Her eyes were wide, filled with concern, and so he spoke before she had to.
“Don’t worry about me.”
She swallowed back whatever it was she’d intended to say. It sounded simple, if only it actually was. “Only if you don’t worry about me either.”
“It’s my job to, Padme.”
She squeezed his arm, and smiled. “Try anyways.”
|
|
|
Quote Reply |
Active Topic Notification |
Private Message |
Post History
|
cadelemartin
Registered:
Mar '08
|
Date Posted:
3/29 8:03pm
Subject:
RE: Another Story [AU Prequels; Obi-Wan, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Anakin]
|
CHAPTER SEVEN
In the power generator pit of the palace, the blades of the Jedi clashed with the double-ended blades of the Sith. Obi-Wan’s eyes were on the yellow eyes of the enemy, his mind as focused as it was supposed to be on battle, as he’d been taught by Masters Yoda and Qui-Gon. But there was something…something different.
There were certain things that came to him through rigorous training and those that came to him through instinct and connection with the Force. Visions were in the latter category, and accessing them, finding out what triggered their appearance, was an indefinable achievement, a mystery – something unique to each and every Jedi.
And what he heard, what triggered the vision that followed was a voice. One that spoke no particular words, but one that seemed to ignite a fire, a determination that Obi-Wan hadn’t quite experienced before. He was mindful of it, filtering it through his thoughts without detracting from the moment, taking in the effect it had without relying on it.
The vision itself was an odd paradox in that it was vivid yet vague. Emotions tied to blurry images and motions. He could see himself falling into blackness and then stopping, caught on or catching something in his grip– his Master up high, tiny in the distance, his life in the hands of the Sith.
The fire ignited in his stomach seemed to spread to his feet, enacting an instant, instinctual movement. He faked to the left and right; tricking the horned enemy into thinking he could catch him in a steal and then actually going left. It saved him a kick to the face that would have thrown him off the platform.
Qui-Gon took the opportunity to catch the Sith off guard, knocking him off the ramp to a level below. The enemy landed and immediately backed away along the ramp to a doorway while Master and Apprentice jumped down and ran to catch up.
They were one wall away when the pulsing red rays appeared, separating them from the Sith. Breathing heavily, Obi-Wan paced, impatient, while his Master chooses to meditate.
Several minutes passed before the walls moved and they were back to fighting. They moved into the melting pit room, circular and a daunting, bottomless hole in the middle. As the minutes passed, Obi-Wan grew weary and the Sith took advantage, catching him off guard and driving a swift kick, sending the young Jedi into the hole.
Obi-Wan grabbed onto something before he fell too far, and just barely, using every ounce of his strength to keep from slipping into the abyss and being left to watch his Master battle the enemy alone.
It wasn’t long before his Master grew weary as well, and just as he had with Obi-Wan, it was obvious the Sith was seeking for a weak spot, which came faster than anticipated. The trick Obi-Wan had used on him earlier, the enemy was now using on Qui-Gon, faking and tricking Qui-Gon into a spot of vulnerability. A grunt followed as Qui-Gon got knocked off his feet, leaving himself vulnerable to attack.
This was the chance Obi-Wan had and he didn’t hesitate. Launching himself upwards, he used the Force to bring his Master’s fallen lightsaber into his hands. By the time he landed on his feet, it was ignited and slicing through the Sith. Those red, evil eyes looked at him in shock before the figure fell back into the abyss, disappearing into the darkness, defeated.
Obi-Wan rushed over to Qui-Gon. “Master!”
“It is…it is alright, Obi…Wan,” Qui-Gon winced, but sat up with the help of his Apprentice. After taking a moment to catch his breath, to quell the pain from where the Sith had gotten him, blood dyeing his sleeve dark red.
“You’re hurt, Master.” Obi-Wan helped him stand and together they left the room.
News of the base station being destroyed and the success of the mission filtered into the hanger bay as the remaining pilots returned from flight. As Qui-Gon was attended to by a medical droid, Obi-Wan felt his attention was at the doorway leading into the palace, waiting…
The moment he saw her, he was flooded with relief that she was okay. And the look on her face from across the room, he knew she felt the same.
She walked towards him quickly, not quite running but close enough, and she wrapped her arms around him before he could prepare otherwise. Her smiling mouth moved against his shoulder, “You’re okay.”
Obi-Wan returned the hug – his Master paid them no heed for the moment, so he allowed himself to relish in the moment of contact. Her hair was soft against his cheek and he was left a little breathless by the time the hug ended. “I told you not to worry.”
“You did,” she nodded, tears in her eyes. “We’ve won, the Trade Federation…they aren’t a threat anymore.”
He could hear the happiness in those words and feel it emanating from her and by the Force did he want to hug her again in that moment.
The commotion of everything else going on didn’t allow for their focus to last, and Padmé’s eyes drifted to the makeshift area where the medics and droids were stationed, and saw Qui-Gon. Before she could say anything, the Jedi Knight stood and approached, a gentle smile behind his beard.
“It is good to see you safe and unharmed, M’lady,” he bowed his head slightly.
“Are you alright?”
“Just a scratch, I assure you.”
“And the—whatever that was…is—?”
“He’s no longer a problem,” said Qui-Gon, regarding the younger Jedi. “Obi-Wan is the one who should be thanked for that.”
Obi-Wan lowered his head humbly. “Master—”
“You won a battle with a Sith, Obi-Wan.” Qui-Gon’s smile seemed to reach his eyes with pride as he regarded his protégé. “You don’t need to be calling me Master anymore.”
The next day, when a few of the Council members arrived on Naboo to oversee the transfer of Nute Gunray and to offer their congratulations, Obi-Wan was called before Master Yoda. As the beams of afternoon sun streaked into the turret room of Theed Palace where they congregated, he knelt obediently as Yoda paced around him.
“Confer on you, the level of Jedi Knight the Council does.”
Obi-Wan nodded, his heart beating faster as the rest of his self remained still and patient. “Yes, Master.”
“But pushing it, you are, with this request.”
“It isn’t a request, Master Yoda. Merely my own input,” Obi-Wan explained carefully.
“Be trained by Qui-Gon, by anyone, the boy will not. Grave danger I sense in his training.”
“He sees something in the boy, Yoda. He says he’ll train him with or without the Council. Would you not rather have him training him at the temple then elsewhere?”
Yoda hrmph’d. “Qui-Gon’s defiance I sense in you.”
“Master Yoda,” Obi-Wan sighed and though speaking with conviction, still chose his words carefully. “I’m here, Knighted, by the will of the Force and…and because of Qui-Gon’s training. I drew upon the guidance he gave me to defeat the Sith, Master Yoda. He helped me become the Jedi I am. I believe that under these circumstances, the boy should be trained by Qui-Gon.”
“Hmm?”
“With all due respect, now that the Sith have apparently resurfaced…would we even dare to risk them finding and training the boy?”
The parade was grand, the streets lined in celebration, flooded with happiness, and the city of Theed had never been so beautiful. Gungan soldiers marched down the streets in festivity, the crowds cheering and throwing flowers.
Padmé, Queen Amidala, stood in front of the palace with the Jedi Counsel, newly elected Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin and Obi-Wan at her side. Boss Nass moved up the stairs and stopped before her and she handed him the Globe of Peace. The crowd went wild.
And under the bright sun, amongst the applauding, Padmé and Obi-Wan’s eyes met. They shared a smile.
By the time the Parade ended, it was nearly nightfall. They’d be leaving in the morning and they stood in the meeting room, the Queen placed in her royal throne as they bid their formal farewells.
“Our duties bring us back to Coruscant,” Qui-Gon explained. “Anakin’s training must begin and Obi-Wan has new responsibilities awaiting him.”
“Of course. The people of Naboo are forever in debt of your heroic actions.” Queen Amidala regarded the three of them individually before resting her gaze on the young boy. “I’m sure I will hear of your exploits in the years to come.”
Anakin nodded, eyes wet as he smiled weakly up at her. “I’m going to train and become a great Jedi and when I do I’ll come back here and see you. Will—will you remember me?”
The Queen nodded, smiling kindly at him. “Of course I will, Anakin.”
Qui-Gon stepped forward and bowed his head, followed in suit by Obi-Wan and Anakin. “We wish you the best, M’lady. May the Force be with you.”
“And with you,” she said back, eliciting a smile from all three Jedi.
Later that night, Obi-Wan left the temporary sleeping quarters he, Qui-Gon and Anakin shared for the night. His former Master didn’t ask after what he was doing – the first time, Obi-Wan noted, with a small grin.
He walked through the Palace until he neared Padmé’s quarters. The guard let him through and he pressed the button near the door, alerting her that he wanted to come in.
The door opened, and she looked at him with surprise.
“Obi-Wan?” she whispered, standing aside for him to come in.
“I wanted to—I didn’t feel like earlier was a good enough—” Obi-Wan stopped himself and caught his breath before continuing. “I wanted to say goodbye to Padmé, not to the Queen.”
“I didn’t think I’d be able to see you again. Wait, how did you—what did you tell your Master?” A second passed before she shook her head and laughed a little. “Right, you’re a Knight now, you don’t have to ask.”
Obi-Wan laughed with her. “Believe me when I say I almost did, until I remembered.”
“I’m so happy for you, you have to know,” Padmé seemed to momentarily move closer, maybe to hug him, only to stop herself and fold her hands over each other. She was in casual dress – not with the regality of the Queen but something that looked far easier to relax in.
“Jedi have been Knighted before. You saved your planet today.”
“With the help of many,” she pointed out.
“Still, I meant what I said to you, before – the people of Naboo are lucky to have you as their Queen.”
Padmé gave him a look. “Did you honestly sneak over here just to say that?”
“No, I guess—we haven’t had much time to talk since I first arrived here.” Obi-Wan timidly looked away before continuing. “I didn’t want saying goodbye to be the only reason to see you.”
Padmé looked like she wanted to believe that, too, but even she knew it wasn’t that simple. “But it’ll have to be, won’t it? You’re leaving in only a few hours. You can’t lose sleep for me, can you?”
“I suppose not. Qui-Gon would wonder why I would be yawning so much,” Obi-Wan offered a weak smile. “His focus is on Anakin now – I’d think that he’d more so notice Anakin missing you than me.”
“I’m his friend,” Padmé pointed out. “Of course he’ll miss his friend.”
“I think he has a crush on you,” Obi-Wan pointed out.
Padmé smirked, amused. “You say it like he’s the first nine-year old to ever have one.”
“He’s a Jedi now,” Obi-Wan said without thought, his tone more harsh than intended.
Padmé seemed to understand it was a mistake, but spoke softer. “He’s looking forward to going, to start his training more than anything. I’m sure he’ll forget about me once he gets settled in.”
“I’d think it’d be difficult to—” Obi-Wan stopped himself, but it was already too late.
“So,” Padmé was still smiling, but she seemed to be holding back more than a moment before. “I should rest assured that you won’t go off and forget about me?”
“I have good memory retention.”
“Good, because being a Knight must not…” She searched for the right words. “You’ll be busier than before, right?”
“Right,” Obi-Wan nodded, almost stepping closer but rethinking it when he saw a guard shifting his route outside the window, reminding him that they weren’t necessarily alone.
And if we were alone?
He folded his arms and straightened, clearing his throat. “My duties don’t allow for a consistent schedule. Unless I find myself on a mission to here, I don’t know—”
“If we’ll be seeing each other for a while,” she finished, her voice even. If it weren’t for the Force, Obi-Wan would’ve thought she was okay with it, completely. But even an experienced diplomat can’t hide their thoughts. He didn’t search them on purpose, though. It was almost as if her unspoken thoughts filtered out into the space between them of their own accord.
“Padmé,” Obi-Wan said, his train of thought vague at best. He didn’t know what he wanted to say, or rather, how to say it, but he spoke anyways. “I…I’m glad we met.”
She smiled ruefully, nodding. “Me too.”
He forced himself to turn and approach the door. As it slid open, he looked back to her. “I’d rather not say goodbye.”
“Me neither,” Padmé sighed. “I guess it’ll have to be a ‘see you later.’”
Obi-Wan smiled. “I’ll see you later, Padmé.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ten years later...
Padmé sat under the afternoon sun, dressed casually, hair done simply, with an absent smile on her face. Her older sister, Sola, sat next to her, switching from watching her daughters with amusement and looking at her sister with concern. "How was the meeting?"
Padmé kept her eyes on her nieces, still fascinated by how much exuberant energy they had. She could understand her sister’s tone. "It was only one meeting. The Queen needed to discuss something with me."
From the corner of her eyes, she could see Sola nodding. "The Republic is in danger, but don't fear, Senator Amidala will fix everything."
Surprised at the level of sarcasm in her sister's voice, Padmé finally looked to her.
"It's what you do, isn't it?" the older woman asked, acting innocent.
"It's what I try to do."
"It's all you try to do, sis."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Padmé pointed out, puzzled by the turn of the conversation. "It's my job, I am a Senator, after all."
Sola's expression softened a little. "It's a great thing, if you're doing it for all the right reasons."
"What are you trying to say?"
She shrugged, "I think you've convinced yourself that the Republic couldn't get along without you."
"Sola!"
"It's true," she insisted, not budging. "All you do is give, Padmé. Don't you ever want to take a little?"
Padmé could only smile in disbelief. "What do you want me to take?"
Her sister motioned to Ryoo and Pooja, "I see the way you look at them, I know how much you love my children."
"Of course I do, Sola."
"Well...don't you want a family of your own?"
Padmé, despite herself, sat up at that, eyes wide as she opened and closed her mouth several times before she could spit anything out. "What I'm working on, Sola, it's important."
"And after this important matter is settled, there'll be another one just after that, and another after that. You'll keep on finding things that satisfy the government and its interests more than your own. When are you going to do something just for you, Padmé?"
"I am."
"You know what I'm talking about, so don't say that."
Padmé shook her head, laughing, acting as if the entire conversation wasn't sending her mind for a spin. "I didn't know we're all defined by whether or not we have families."
"Of course we're not. It's a matter of happiness and fulfillment, personal fulfillment. You've made a name for yourself as a Senator, you've helped so many people, and I know that. I'd have to be evil to tell you to stop caring. I'm just trying to tell you to start caring about yourself, sis."
Padmé almost opened her mouth to say something back, some witty remark or simply a statement on how she did care for herself, and that she was happy, fulfilled, that she had a personal life at all. But the words didn't come, eyes settled on her nieces dancing and playing, hands resting in her lap trying not to fidget with one another, thoughts drifting past the troubles of the Republic and towards other things, memories. She couldn't say what she wanted because it wasn't true. The last time she was even close to being able to claim contentment with herself or her relationships was...well, a long time ago.
After they landed in Coruscant, there was a moment where everything seemed to go by so fast, happening in just a moment. An explosion, people thrown back, flames, blood. Then time slowed, and Padmé removed her helmet to survey the scene, distraught.
She wished she were naïve enough to not understand why society resorted to violence. It was a silly thing to wish for, to want, but as she rushed across the landing deck as people who cared for her, people she cared for, lay dying, she had tears in her eyes because it was exactly what they expected. It was what they anticipated.
If she were naïve, there would’ve been no decoy; she would’ve been dead. If she was as innocent as she was as a child, she wouldn’t be rushing to kneel beside Cordé dressed in her regal clothes, blood smeared on her cheek, the light in her eyes dimming.
She wouldn’t have cost a dear friend her life.
“I’m…sorry, M’lady…I’m not…sure I…”
The light was gone; her body slumped in Padmé’s arms. Tears burned in the Senator’s own eyes as she shook her head. “No!”
Finally, she forced herself to gently lay Cordé back to the ground. Standing slowly, she looked at the destruction and devastation surrounding her. “I shouldn’t have come back…”
Typho’s hand touched her arm, his voice struggling between forced calm and worry. “You’re still in danger.”
Artoo rolled up beside Padmé, letting out a small, robotic whimper. She stood still, unresponsive.
Typho insisted, “M’lady, this vote is important. M’lady!”
Taking in a deep, shaky breath, Padmé forced herself to turn away, shrugging Typho’s hand off of her arm and quickly exiting the landing bay to safety.
Impassive, but strong and determined, Padmé entered Chancellor Palpatine’s office. Before she could say anything, the diminutive Master Yoda greeted her with a tap of his cane.
“With you, strong the force is, young Senator. To see you alive brings warmth to my heart.”
Padmé nodded in thanks, meeting his kind, wise eyes. “Thank you, Master Yoda.”
She regarded the rest of the Senators, Jedi and the Chancellor. “Does anyone have an idea as to who was behind the attack?”
“Disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo, says our intelligence.”
“Not to offend by disagreeing, but I believe Count Dooku was behind this.”
The room stirred with surprise. Mace Windu remained calm, his voice even, as he spoke to her. “Count Dooku was once a Jedi. He wouldn’t resort to assassination, it isn’t his character.”
“He is a political idealist, not a murderer.”
Yoda closed his eyes for a moment before voicing his thoughts. “Dark times, these are. Nothing is certain. In grave danger, you are.”
Palpatine gazed out across the cityscape for a long, quiet moment, before asking. “He’s always avoided conflict and hasn’t shown any desire to start a war. Why would he see to it that you be killed?”
“I don’t know,” Padmé answered in honesty. “But I do know that every inch of me tells me he was behind it.”
Slowly, Palpatine turned to Mace Windu. “May I suggest the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces, Master Jedi?”
Padmé shook her head, “If I may comment, I don’t really believe—”
Palpatine stopped her before she could finish. “That the situation is serious enough? I do, Senator.”
Stubbornly, Padmé continued to argue against the idea. “I need no more guards!”
“I realize that additional security measures might be disruptive. Perhaps someone you know, an old friend?”
Padmé would curse herself for thinking it in the middle of a serious meeting, but the first thing that came to mind was Obi-Wan and she found herself hoping…
“Master Qui-Gon, perhaps?”
Mace nodded. “It’s possible. He’s just returned from a border dispute.”
“He helped you on Naboo, you must remember him.”
Padmé shook her head once more. “It isn’t necessary, Chancellor.”
“Do it, M’lady, for me, I beg of you. The thought of something happening to you is unbearable.”
The stares of everyone in the room weighed down on her and she knew there would be no end to the argument, no point in disagreeing anymore. She sighed and nodded in agreement.
In her apartment later that day, conferring with Typho, the Jedi’s arrival was announced exuberantly by Jar-Jar. Rising, she walked over to the entrance. Qui-Gon, not looking to have aged a day, stepped forward with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you, M’lady.”
“It’s been far too long, Master Jinn, I’m so glad our paths have crossed again.” He bowed, and then she slightly cut through the formalities, allowing herself a moment of bluntness without losing her polite tone. “I must warn you that I think your presence here is unnecessary, though."
Qui-Gon nodded, like he expected to hear that, and replied simply. “The Jedi Council always have their reasons.”
Nodding in resignation of the topic, Padmé allowed her attention to shift to the young man standing behind Qui-Gon. It took her a moment before she realized – “Annie?! My goodness you’ve grown!”
Anakin smiled, stepping forward. “It’s…it’s good—great to see you again, Padmé. You’re as beautiful as I remember—” He cleared his throat and straightened a little. “Although you’ve gotten shorter.”
Qui-Gon shook his head ever so briefly, but Padmé just laughed. “Oh, Annie. You’re still just like the little boy I knew on Tatooine.”
“Except taller?”
“Definitely.”
The older Jedi shifted the topic once more, “We’ll be almost invisible here, M’lady, I promise you.”
Padmé nodded and they walked over to the sitting area. Typho let out a grateful sigh as he followed. “You being here is a good thing. The situation is more dire than the Senator will admit.”
Padmé wasted no time in defending herself, “I don’t need anymore security, I need answers. I can’t run and hide from a killer for my entire life, can I? I need to know who’s trying to kill me.”
Qui-Gon nodded in understanding. “The best course of action would be an investigation, of course, but for the time being, we are merely here to protect you.”
“So I should sit here and wait until the Counsel decides the matter is important enough to investigate?” she asked, more brash than she’d intended herself to be. She immediately softened, “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be insulting.”
“Your life’s been put in danger, M’lady, you have the right to be frustrated. But I assure you; the situation is being handled with the utmost priority. The point is to keep you out of danger, not to allow it to find you.”
Anakin leaned forward in his seat eagerly. “We will find out who’s trying to kill you. I promise you, Padmé.”
“The situation will be handled, M’lady, but it will be at the Counsel’s discretion,” Qui-Gon explained, giving a pointed look to his Apprentice, who apologetically bit his lip.
“Perhaps with you here, the mysteries of this threat will be revealed sooner rather than later?” Padmé offered. She felt alleviated by both of them acknowledging the situation, but knew that Qui-Gon could only go so far in assuring her and Anakin as already threatening to cross that line. So she stood up and bid her farewell, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retire for the night.”
Padmé was restless as she lay in bed, for more reasons than one. Worried over the vote, still distraught over the death of her friend, and confused at how disappointed she was at her current arrangement. It was good to see both Qui-Gon and Anakin, they brought back memories of celebratory times, when Naboo was victorious over the Trade Federation, and even if she'd not admit it out loud, she felt safer with them there.
But she couldn't help feeling disappointed that she hadn't been been assigned to a different Jedi, someone she hadn't seen in so long, too long.
The door chime disrupted her thoughts before she could really wonder why she was so attached to the idea of being under Obi-Wan's care. She knew Qui-Gon just as long as she had Obi-Wan, and yet...
Putting on a robe, she opened the door to find Anakin Skywalker standing before her.
"Hello," he greeted her, almost breathless.
Padmé drew her robe tighter around herself. "Is everything okay?"
He stuttered then, almost as if he'd just realized that disturbing her in the middle of the night wasn't something of norm. "Oh, yes, of course. My Master's gone to the lower levels. Everything is quiet, it seems."
"You sound disappointed."
He laughed, abashed. "Sorry."
"You don't enjoy this, do you?"
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be," he blurted out.
Padmé laughed, embarrassed simply by the situation. "I meant, having to watch over me instead of doing more exciting things."
"The life of a Jedi isn't necessarily one of excitement," Anakin said, like he was reciting a line.
"So you haven't done anything exciting over the years, then?"
"Well, I wouldn't say I haven't done anything," he relented with a shrug and a smile. "Being a Padawan is more about learning and observing than anything. I'm sure Obi-Wan has more interesting tales."
"Obi-Wan?" Padmé cursed herself inwardly for the jump in her voice saying his name. "You've kept in contact with him?"
Anakin didn’t seem excited at the change of topic, but answered anyways. “Yes, of course. He’s doing well enough. He does a lot of solo missions. I guess you could say he’s making a bit of a name for himself.”
She could detect a tinge of jealousy in the young man’s voice, the kind one would hear in a younger brother envious of his older brother’s exploits. She furrowed her brow and inquired, “Solo missions? He hasn’t taken on an apprentice?”
Anakin hesitated. “He...did.”
Padmé didn’t need to hear anymore to know what might’ve happened. “Oh.”
“A part of the job. She’s one with the Force now, they say,” Anakin explained, his tone darker than seemed appropriate from a Jedi. “She sacrificed herself for the mission.”
Then, for just a moment, Anakin’s tone softened and he actually seemed sympathetic as he explained, “Obi-Wan hasn’t taken on another since.”
"It's always difficult to lose those close to us," Padmé offered.
Anakin nodded, and his gaze intensified, voice lowering to a soft whisper. “If only we lived in a world where death could be avoided completely.”
"If we didn't have fear of death, then what would we have to fight for?" Padmé asked disdainfully, mind drifting to the vote, to the explosion.
Anakin cleared his throat and - even if it was just for a second it was enough to give Padmé and unsettling feeling in her gut - his eyes glanced at her lips. Padmé didn't how she looked at him then, but the min | |