Chapter 1
Anakin POV
Anakin felt puzzled. He had been with the Jedi Order for many years, and he thought that he knew everybody at the Temple, even the younglings. But as he walked to the office of his good friend Chancellor Palpatine, he felt an unfamiliar force signature.
"Hello Chancellor!" Anakin said with a smile as he opened the door to his friends office.
"Oh, hello Master Skywalker, what a pleasant surprise." The Chancellor exclaimed as he turned around in his chair.
Anakin surveyed the room, and noticed something odd, very odd. A man, no, a boy stood to the right side of the Chancellor's desk nearly completely decked out in black and gray mandalorian armor, minus the helmet, which he held at his side. Something else about the boy bothered him as well... the force signature. This boy possessed the unfamiliar force signature he sensed walking into the room.
"What brings you here on this fine day Anakin?" Chancellor Palpatine asked, prying Anakin's attention away from the boy.
"Senator Amidala asked me to run these over," Anakin said as he strode over to the Chancellor's desk and dropped a stack of papers on his desk.
Anakin then turned his attention back to the boy. He had black hair, brown eyes, tall and muscular, and he also radiated confidence. His eyes looked Anakin over as if assessing whether or not Anakin posed any threat. Everything about him screamed bounty hunter. But why would a bounty hunter be in the Chancellor's office?"
"I see you've noticed my new personal bodyguard," Chancellor Palpatine stated, "Anakin this is Nate Fuller, Nate this is Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight." the Chancellor said, gesturing to both men.
The bounty hunter, Nate, broke out a cocky grin and offered his hand to Anakin, "pleased to meet your acquaintance, Master Skywalker." Anakin accepted the handshake and responded simply, "me as well. However, how did someone of your age manage to get such a prestigious title?"
Nate shrugged, "I signed a contract," he stated, that cocky grin reemerging.
Anakin scowled at his smartass remark as the Chancellor chuckled. "Oh don't worry Anakin, I assure you I wouldn't have chosen Nate if he wasn't capable. He was a successful bounty hunter before he came to work with me."
So Anakin had been right, Nate was a bounty hunter. "Why did a bounty hunter such as yourself decide to take up being a bodyguard?" He asked.
Nate just shrugged, "it pays well." He stated simply.
Anakin turned his attention back towards the Chancellor. "Chancellor this is entirely unnecessary, the Jedi can protect you just fine!"
"The Jedi are generals Anakin, they may be called into battle at any moment, I wanted someone highly skilled who was more... consistent." The Chancellor responded.
"Don't worry Master Skywalker, the Chancellor is in good hands," Nate said confidently. Anakin was really starting to dislike the kids cocky behavior. He was about to open his mouth and continue arguing his point when his padawan, Ahsoka Tano walked into the office.
"Hey, Skyguy! The council wants to speak to us. Something about a mission. We better get going."
"Skyguy?" Nate snickered. Anakin gave him a dirty look as he said his goodbyes to the Chancellor and walked out of the room with Ahsoka.
"First off, Skyguy? In front of the Chancellor? C'mon Snips work with me here." Ahsoka couldn't help but snicker at her Masters exasperation. With a deep sigh, Anakin continued, "Second off, did you sense that kid's force signature? He seems pretty powerful, how did the Jedi not find him when he was younger?"
"Yeah I noticed that as well Master, quite strange." Ahsoka said frowning.
Very strange, Anakin thought to himself. He made a mental note to keep a close eye on that kid.
"The Separatists have sent a small force to take the planet Florrum. They have already erected a base, so it will by no means be an easy task. You and Commander Tano will be accompanied by Master Kenobi." Said Mace Windu.
"Go to Florrum, you will. Take back the planet, you must." Said Yoda.
"Yes Master," said Anakin with a slight bow. "C'mon Snips let's get going and board our cruiser."
As they walked out of the council room and towards the landing bay Anakin once again thought about the boy, Nate, with the weird force signature. There was no doubt that he was strong with the force, Anakin had been able to sense him as soon as he entered the building. But how could the Jedi have missed such a strong force signature?
"So what's your genius plan to take back Florrum Skyguy?" Said Ahsoka, tearing his concentration away from his thoughts.
"Um, well part two of the plan isn't quite finished. But part one solid, don't worry Ahsoka." Responded Anakin.
Ahsoka raised her facial markings in a way that said, I highly doubt every word that came out of your mouth just now. "Mm hm. Yea, sure. So what is this genius part one you've come up with?"
"To get on the cruiser and fly to Florrum of course," Anakin stated with a smile. Ahsoka rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath.
"Well I'm glad we have such an excellent plan in place before we even leave," replied Ahsoka sarcastically. "And I am honored to be the padawan of one of the finest military strategists in the Republic Army."
"Oh, shut up and get to the cruiser," Anakin said, returning to his thoughts. There was something else that bothered Anakin about Nate, something he couldn't quite figure out. It made him uneasy, there was something about Nate that he didn't like, and it wasn't just that he was a little bit of an ass. It was something... darker. He shifted his thoughts as he entered the hangar bay.
The hangar bay was one of Anakin's favorite places in the entire temple. It had a beautiful view of Coruscant, and plenty of ships to tinker with. Anakin had always been good with his hands, he was quite the mechanic. Anakin sighed, he was tempted to blow off the mission and help someone repair the Jedi fighters instead to help take his mind off of Nate, but he didn't want Master Windu to put him on janitor duty for another week.
He boarded his cruiser to find Obi-Wan already onboard. "Hello Master, it is nice to see you again."
"It is nice to see you as well my former padawan." Obi-Wan replied with a smile. However that smile quickly changed to a confused look. "Who is your new friend Anakin?"
"Obi-Wan, you know who Ahsoka is, what are you talking about?" Anakin said, just as confused as Obi-Wan.
"I don't think he's talking about me master," Ahsoka replied.
"I think that he's talking about me," Nate said as he walked on board the cruiser.
"What are you doing here? Why are you on my ship?" Anakin replied with a nasty tone. "I thought you were the Chancellor's bodyguard, you should probably return to your post before I report you."
"I'm just as confused as you are Master Skywalker, but the Chancellor asked me to go on this mission with you, so I'm gonna go. Here's the papers the Chancellor gave me." He handed Anakin a datapad containing all of the necessary papers to get on the ship and take part in the mission.
"For kriff's sake," Anakin said under his breath. "Fine, but don't distract anyone." He said as he turned around and marched away. Great, just great he thought to himself. The one guy I don't trust, just puts himself on my mission. He would have to have a long talk with the Chancellor when he got back.