Chapter Two
Danger
Anakin sauntered into his and Obi-wan's living quarters sometime later. Predictably the Jedi Master was awake.
"Where in the blazes have you been, Anakin?"
"You said I could go out. You never said when I had to be back."
'Alright. You win. THIS time."
Anakin breathed a sigh of relief.
"Get some rest. We have training early tomorrow morning."
Of course as punishment the morning's lightsaber practice was especially brutal. Normally Anakin was up for the challenge. But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Padmé's face filled his vision, her beautiful face when they were standing outside her apartment, her brown eyes locked with his. He could almost smell her. He forgot to parry Obi-wan's strike and was pushed back.
"That was sloppy, Anakin." Obi-wan commented.
"I'm not feeling like myself today, Obi-wan. Forgive me."
"Staying up late will do that to you."
Anakin gave Obi-wan a sarcastic smile.
They continued sparring. Anakin was holding his own and began to advance on Obi-wan, the speed and precision of his strikes driving Obi-wan backwards. He would have won the session except his mind was overtaken with a vision.
Fire, bursts of fire filled his sight. Her face in the midst of it, hair blowing back behind from the sheer force of the explosion before her. Her eyes looked terror stricken and he could see the flames reflection in them.
Obi-wan took the opportunity to knock Anakin onto the ground.
"You have to learn to focus, Anakin."
Anakin seemed to be in a trance, his blue eyes unblinking. "Padmé." He said softly.
"What is it?"
"The senator is in trouble. We have to go to her apartment. NOW."
Obi-wan gave his padawan a worried look. "Alright."
If there ever was a day when Obi-wan would truly in every sense of the world absolutely DESPISE flying, today had to be it.
Anakin flew erratically, making sharp turns at high speeds. Obi-wan wondered if his breakfast would revisit him.
As 500 Republica came into view Anakin's vision had been proven right. The landing pad was covered with the twisted metal remains of one of Padmé's handmaiden's dead body was sprawled out on the ground. Padmé was nowhere to be found.
Anakin's heart was in his throat and he feared the worst. He jumped out of the speeder, running towards the wreckage.
"Padmé!" he almost screamed.
And then…"Ani!"
She was kneeling beside one of her guards. Her face caked with ash, her tears like rivers flowing down her cheeks.
"Padmé!"
She got up and threw her arms around him. "Anakin."
"What happened?" He asked.
She hiccupped. "I was scheduled for a meeting. We were on our way to the transport and…it just exploded."
Obi-wan's presence brought Anakin to his senses. He pulled out of the embrace.
"It seems, senator, that you were the target of an assassination attempt."
Anakin looked at her wordlessly and for the first time he saw fear in her eyes.
He was sure she could see the fear in his.
An hour later Padmé had bathed and changed into fresh clothing. Captain Typho and what remained of her guards were crowded around her. The diminutive Yoda and Mace Windu were there as well.
"Troubling this development is." Yoda spoke.
"It's clear that what happened earlier was an assassination attempt." Mace said. "Especially considering how close the senate is to the vote on the Military Creation Act."
"Someone wanted to make sure I'd never get to speak to the senate." Padmé said seriously.
"The only question is what to do about the situation." Obi-wan added.
"Meditate on this I will." Yoda said solemnly.
Their meeting was over and Mace and Yoda left.
Anakin looked at Padmé. "I would suggest you double your security team."
"Oh, not more security. I feel like a child who cannot function without someone to help me. I am tired of being coddled and protected like I'm helpless. I'm not!"
Anakin locked eyes with her. "I know you're not helpless, Padmé. You're the strongest person I know. But you need to accept help when you need it."
'Anakin, you're four years younger than me. Don't tell me what I should and should not do."
"I'm just trying to help."
"I don't need your help." She replied bitterly.
"Padmé…" He seemed hurt by her coldness.
She realized her error. "I'm sorry, Ani. You didn't deserve that. It's just…I'm really stressed out right now."
He almost smiled. "Naturally. I mean I'd be stressed out too if someone was trying to kill me."
Her face took on a goofy expression. 'Well…yeah." She may have had a few years on him, but at that moment she seemed all of sixteen.
He was warmed by it, how informal and regular she seemed to act at the particular moment. It was nice to see her just be herself. Not the former queen, not a senator. Just Padmé.
Out of all the titles bestowed upon her he liked Padmé the best.
They smiled at each other.
A formal meeting was held in Chancellor Palpatine's office the next morning.
The chancellor's words were calculated, rehearsed. But still, no one suspected anything behind his seemingly kind words.
'I am deeply saddened by this course of events. Senator Amidala has served alongside me for more than a decade. She is like family to me." He looked at Padmé like a grandfather would look at his granddaughter.
Obi-wan addressed the chancellor. "The Council has been deliberating about what to do. A more extensive security force would be helpful."
Anakin was young, and not viewed by the council as someone who had the proper knowledge for most situations, regardless of his gifts in the force. He knew this. But he still felt compelled to say something.
"With all due respect a better security team will not solve the problem. It will only shield her from harm. The assassin will still be after her and once he or she spots a weakness they'll exploit it."
Obi-wan looked at his padawan warily. Anakin smiled at him softly.
Yoda turned his focus away from the Chancellor to Anakin. "Suggesting what, you are?"
"I think someone should be assigned to finding the identity and whereabouts of the assassin. Once they are in custody then Senator Amidala will be safe."
Mace Windu interjected. "That sounds plausible. But you have to remember, Anakin, that the senator has many enemies. If this particular assassin is caught that doesn't mean she won't be the target of other assassination attempts."
"No, you're right. But it would keep her safe for now."
"And allow me to vote on the Military Creation Act." Padmé added.
Chancellor Palpatine was irritated by her words, but hid his displeasure. "Even so, the senator is still in danger."
"What do you think would be the wisest course of action?" Obi-wan asked.
The chancellor answered. "Whoever has been trying to murder the senator is on Coruscant. The only way for her to be truly safe is to leave."
Padmé was upset by this. "Leave? Then I won't be able to vote in the Senate. That's what this whole thing is about. The Creation Act. I didn't leave home for a vacation, chancellor. I HAVE to vote."
He smiled warmly. "And you will, senator. But you cannot vote if you are injured…or worse. I suggest you leave the planet for the time being. I will ask the senate to delay the vote until you assassin is caught. Then you can return safely and vote."
Mace Windu spoke. 'Whoever wants her dead is keeping a close eye on her. She's going to need protection when she is leaving Coruscant and also wherever she will go."
"A body guard?" Padmé asked. "I don't really…"
The Chancellor interrupted her. "It is intrusive. I know. But your safety is our number one priority at the moment."
'Who should be assigned to protect her, then?" Obi-wan asked.
The Chancellor smiled and looked at Anakin almost proudly. "He is right in this very room."
The Council looked at the Chancellor expectantly.
"Why, young Anakin Skywalker." He said.
Anakin blushed immediately.
Obi-wan looked at Anakin with concern and then back at the Chancellor. His brows furrowed. "I think that would be very unwise."
Mace Windu commented. 'Anakin is too reckless and inexperienced to be allowed on an assignment on his own."
Anakin looked at Mace Windu incredulously. The anger bloomed across his handsome features. He held his tongue, though.
Chancellor Palpatine spoke. "The Council should have more faith in young Skywalker. He is the Chosen one, is he not?"
That's beside the point." Mace retorted.
"I understand your apprehension, Master Jedi. But Anakin is very gifted. And he knows the senator. They are comfortable with each other. A certain level of trust would be necessary in this situation. He is the perfect candidate."
Obi-wan wanted to say their comfort with one another was precisely what worried him. Anakin was too close to the senator. It would cloud his judgment. His feelings would get in the way of actually protecting her.
"I think this meeting should be adjourned. The Council needs some time to decide." The Chancellor said.
All stood and filed out. Anakin stayed seated, his eyes glued to the ground. He was trying with much difficulty not to throw something or bash mace Windu's skull in. From day one has an intruder to the council. An inconvenience, a burden. He had such big dreams. Through the eyes of a nine year old child a life lived as a Jedi seemed wonderful. Ten years later his opinion had changed considerably.
They didn't trust him. They had no faith in his abilities. He wondered sometimes why they decided he should be trained because their actions and words since then convinced him they thought otherwise. It made him wonder if they regretted their decision.
Obi-wan looked at his padawan. "Anakin…"
"I don't want to talk, Master." The rejection was still very raw and it strained his voice.
"Okay." He walked out to join the Council at the Temple for further deliberation.
Padmé was aware of Anakin's distress.
"Just so you know, I think you'd make a great protector."
He looked up, staring at her. He was suddenly warm and a smile blossomed on his face. "Thank you."
"I think you deserve a break from all this. Come to my apartment. We can have some steamed Jawa Juice and discuss more interplanetary adventures."
He smirked. "Or misadventures."
She laughed softly.
And at that moment she had never looked so beautiful to him. Once again she was his angel, saving him from his pain.