Okay everyone, I've had this bouncing around in my head for a while and I want to get it the hell out of there, so I'm writing this story YAY IM SO EXCITED IT SHALL BE AMAZING!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, or any characters used. I am not affiliated with any minor Star Wars production companies or George Lucas (though he is my hero).

Chapter 1

I follow Padme calmly down the hall of the Senate building, exiting into the bright reflective glares of the skyscrapers of Coruscant. I blink for a moment before refocusing my eyes on Padme's lavender-cloaked figure, headed in the direction of her speeder. An attendant and a security guard hop in the green speeder after us, filling the remaining space. I sense the driver rolling his eyes as we take off into the filled airways: this isn't the first time the speeder has had to hold too many passengers.

The ride back to Senator Amidala's penthouse is cramped and awkward, and relief floods my veins as we exit onto the top of her apartment building. Her guard stations himself by the front door as we descend and enter her penthouse. It is truly beautiful: smooth, curving lines define the furniture and building style, with pleasant, natural blues and greens filling gaps left by the awkward architecture.

Taking a seat on the sofa, Padme gestures to me. "Ahsoka, come over here. I need to talk to you."

I grimace and sit down, knowing this conversation won't be pretty. Whenever the Senator wants to talk to me, it's usually about politics or that Master Skywalker is angry with me again. I sigh and flop onto the couch, ready for whichever topic she brings up.

It's politics. "You know, Ahsoka, this war isn't completely black and white. Both sides have ugly issues underneath their main motives: there are bad people in the Republic-" "KNEW THAT," I state calmly. I'm bored out of my mind. I wonder if Commander Fox got the new training guns in yet: he usually asks me to practice with them.

"AHSOKA! Pay attention!" Padme's loud voice interrupts my pleasant dreams of annihilating tester droids. I sigh. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees?" I drawl out my words, hoping to inspire a more interesting conversation from her.

She frowns and walks into her office, and I follow. As the Jedi Padawan assigned to her protection, I follow Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo everywhere she goes, including her most private chambers. I try to avoid her bedroom, though. When you're sixteen and the Senator you're guarding is married, the bedroom she and her husband share can never be a fun place to stick around.

Padme moans and stands by her desk, gazing out the window at the speeder traffic rushing by. "You won't listen. Jedi never do," she murmurs. "I wish I could talk to Senator Bonteri." I half-listen as I flick my nails, asking about the unfamiliar name. "Who's he?"

She giggles lightly. I hate when she does that: she has the most annoying laugh I've ever heard, and I'm just grateful she didn't laugh full out.

"He is a she," she tells me. "A member of the Confederation of Independent Systems." I look up, amazed. "Your friend is a Separatist? One of Dooku's pawns?" I exclaim. She nods calmly as shock fills my veins. "Most of the Separatist senators were Representatives in the Republic. I was close with many of the Senators who left. I may not agree with them, but they're more than pawns."

I turn to face her. "If you think negotiating is the right thing to do, let's talk to her." Then of course Padme had to go off on a tangent about the Senate making it illegal and how I should use my status as a Jedi to sneak her behind enemy lines and blah blah blah. I groan inwardly and hold up my hand. "Relax. I'll help you," I tell her. "Where are we going?"

She smiles at me as she exits the room to get on her traveling clothes. "Raxis," she murmurs. I follow her out of the room, suddenly tense: I had a dream about a planet last night with purple trees and golden cliffs, and the name of it started with R. I knew it was a Separatist planet, and I fought to get away, but something kept me there: a figure cloaked in gray. A boy, I think: sixteen, around my age. He clung to me, preventing me from soaring into a pitch-black sky. I woke up as he dragged me back towards a towering yellow building. It scared the hell out of me, but I dismissed it as just a dream: and now, we were going to a Separatist planet called Raxis…a place that just might fit the description.

Still, I guard Amidala at all times, whether I like it or not. Except her room, obviously. So no matter what my opinion, I promised I would get her to Raxis. And I never go back on my word.

~on a cargo ship~

It's been three days since Padme had this crazy idea, and I thought she wouldn't actually go through with it. But here we are on a cargo ship headed for Raxis, and the idea sounds even less appealing.

Padme has spotted the distressed look I've tried to wipe from my face. As a Jedi, I must be passive-aggressive no matter who watches, but my concern about this venture worries me more than it should. I can't knock the feeling that something will happen to me on Raxis. My worries heighten even further as we descend into the atmosphere of the planet: golden hills, patrolled by Separatist droids and gunships, slope down into a purple ocean. Just like in my dream.

I shiver and turn away from the window as Padme places her hand on my knee. "I know you're worried, Ahsoka," she whispers calmly. "This planet runs on the fumes of pain and political suffering, and you've been trained to kill all Separatists on site. Still, Mina Bonteri and her family resemble none of the leaders you've met: they are good people."

I move her hand away. "Please relax, Senator Amidala. My concerns are not your concerns. Besides, Master Skywalker trusts me with your well-being: I hope you do too." She nods and settles back into her seat, and we both tense as we head for the exit door: Separatist droids check identification papers to make sure travelers have come legally. And unfortunately, we don't have them.

We disembark our blocky gray transport, bags clutched tightly in our fists. We head to the left, as Padme's letter from Senator Bonteri instructed. As a Separatist droid spots us, a blond girl wearing strange black makeup distracts it while we continue to a tall woman with brown hair and a blue lacy dress. She turns, a huge smile already plastered on her face. "Hello, old friend," she says to Padme. Senator Amidala grins. "Ahsoka, this is Mina Bonteri. She was my mentor when I grew up on Naboo," she tells me. I lower my hood, revealing my Padawan training beads dangling from my lekku.

"Ah! Welcome," Senator Bonteri murmurs, taking in the revelation that I am a Jedi. She recovers her composure quickly, placing her arm around Padme's shoulders. "Now come. I have a transport waiting."

As Padme follows her down the platform, I turn in a circle, taking in the cascading golden cliffs. A sky bluer than any I have ever seen glows above, making reflections on the lavender water of the ocean. I replace my hood, suddenly feeling lost, as though the trusted Force has abandoned me on this planet of the enemy.

~break~

So R&R please guys! I hope it was all right! We'll meet Lux next chapter…SEXY.