A/N: This is Episode II of A Shadow in the Glass. Episode I, 'I'm a Person, and My Name is Anneke!' can be found on my profile page.
While in canon, Episode II takes place 10 years after Episode I, I have shortened that time as Anneke was much older than 9 in Episode I.
The sun was setting. Shadows stretched across the city, reaching for the fading light. Anneke's reflection floated before her, superimposed over the Coruscant skyline, a ghost in the glass wall of the elevator she shared with Obi Wan, the elevator that steadily carried her into her past. Her Padawan braid tickled her cheek; she pushed it behind her ear.
"You seem a little on edge, Anneke," her master observed in that unnerving way he had of seeing into her soul.
"I'm fine," she said, though he would know she was lying.
Obi Wan shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "You haven't been this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks."
She raised an eyebrow. "You fell into that nightmare, Master, and I rescued you. Remember?"
"Ah, yes." He laughed. "That's right. You did." His gaze sharpened, his blue-grey eyes intense. "You're sweating. Relax."
Anneke closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It has been five years, Master."
"He's not the King anymore." It wasn't surprising that Obi Wan knew it was seeing Padraig again that made her nervous. But it did surprise her that he would think it was because of Padraig's title.
She shook her head. "It's not what he is, but who he is." She folded her arms across her chest. There was no point in trying to hide her feelings from Obi Wan. "I may have had a crush on him." She bit her lip, watching her master's reflection in the glass.
He didn't look surprised. He simply put his hand on her shoulder and met her eyes in the reflection. "You have grown much since then, Anneke. The Force will help you. Remember what you have learned."
She nodded, reaching out for the calming presence of the Force, smiling as it flowed over her.
The door slid open and a shrill voice greeted them: "Obi! Anni!" Jar Jar Binks bounced forward and gripped Obi Wan's hands excitedly.
Obi Wan smiled politely, and Anneke grinned at her master's discomfiture. He had never liked Jar Jar.
With typical enthusiasm, Jar Jar turned and enveloped Anneke in a bear hug.
"Hi, Jar Jar." Anneke drew on the Force to help her breathe. Releasing her as suddenly as he had grabbed her, Jar Jar spun around and led them into another room, chattering the whole way about how he couldn't believe how much Anni had grown.
Two people stood to greet the Jedi as they entered, but Anneke saw only one: Senator Padraig Andelko of Naboo. The years had been kind to him: while he had already been handsome when last they'd met, he had now grown into his arms and legs. He was even taller, and his shoulders were broader, than she remembered. As he turned toward them, the last rays of the setting sun through the windows caught in his dark hair, reflecting gold. He nearly took her breath away. Closing her eyes, she called upon the Force once again to calm her.
Obi Wan inclined his head. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Senator."
Padraig stepped forward and took Obi Wan's hand. "It has been far too long, Master Kenobi. I am glad that our paths have crossed again." He took a deep breath. "But I must tell you that I think your presence here is unnecessary."
"I'm sure the Council had reason to send us."
Padraig waved his hand as if trying to banish an annoying insect. "Chancellor Palpatine thinks I am in danger. There was an attempt on my life earlier today."
Anneke felt her heart drop, and she forgot to breathe. Someone had tried to kill him? For a moment, her vision narrowed and her hands curled into fists at her sides. Drawing on the Force to calm herself again, she consciously relaxed.
He turned away, and Anneke could feel the frustration coming off of him in waves. "I don't want more guards." Catching sight of her, he stopped suddenly. "Anneke?" His voice softened. "You've… grown."
She had thought that the intervening years would change things, and they had, just not in the way she had hoped. Her reaction to him was even stronger than it had been. She tried to speak, but all that came out was, "So have you." Her voice was high, nearly a squeak, and heat rushed to her face.
Obi Wan rescued her by saying, "Our presence will be invisible, Senator."
The other person in the room stepped forward. He was dressed in military garb. "I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi. I'm Captain Typho, head of security. I'm afraid the situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."
Padraig spun away from Anneke, his midnight blue cloak swirling around him. "I don't need more security. I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me!"
"We're here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation," Obi Wan said.
"I'll find out who is trying to kill you, Padraig," Anneke blurted.
She could feel her master's disapproval as he responded, "We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan!"
She bowed her head, biting her lip. Though she often frustrated him, Obi Wan rarely rebuked her, especially not in public. Something inside her rose up in response. "Why?" she demanded.
Obi Wan caught her arm, and pulled her away, his voice pitched low enough that the others wouldn't hear. "What?" Now she had really crossed the line. He almost seemed angry with her.
"Why else do you think we were assigned to protect him, if not to find the assassin?" she quickly explained. "Protection is a job for security, not for Jedi."
He sighed and looked away, shaking his head. Then, meeting her eyes, he said, "We will do exactly as the Council has instructed."
Ever the diplomat, Padraig offered, "Perhaps with your presence, the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed." He gestured toward the table. "Will you join me for a meal?"