The shuttle glided smoothly to a halt at the Government Center VIP Landing Platform. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Naboo Senator Sio Bibble, accompanied by two Republic Senate Guards, waited patiently for the shuttle's ramp to lower. A tall, dark-skinned human put his head out the door. After taking a careful look around, he nodded at someone in the shuttle, then descended the ramp. Palpatine recognized him as Captain Panaka, Chief of Security for Naboo.
Queen Amidala appeared at the top of the ramp. She was dressed in an ornate red gown shot through with gold brocade. Her hair was woven through a gold headpiece that encircled her head like the rays of the sun. As always for public appearances, she was wearing formal white court makeup with the red Scar of Remembrance painted on her lower lip. She had an air of authority and dignity that were only enhanced by the ornate headpiece and the gown's wide shoulders.
As she descended the ramp, the Queen took the arm of a tall, dark-haired man in an immaculate white uniform. His clothing was trimmed in blue with a generous amount of gold braid. He carried himself with the same sort of authority as Queen Amidala.
When the couple walked up to them, the Chancellor bowed and bestowed a kiss on the Queen's hand. "Welcome back to Coruscant, Your Majesty. It's a pleasure to see you again."
"It is good to see you again also, Chancellor. And you too, Senator Bibble." The Queen turned to look at her escort. "May I present Prince Bail Organa, recently ascended First Chairman and Viceroy of the Sovereign System of Alderaan?"
Prince Organa extended his hand. "How do you do, gentlemen. We've met before, Chancellor, but only briefly."
"Ah, yes," remembered Palpatine, shaking the man's hand. "It was at the Caamas Conference, was it not?" The Prince nodded.
"If I remember correctly, Your Highness," said Senator Bibble, "you were pushing very hard for a unified, expanded Republic military." His expression said that he did not agree with Organa's position.
"The need for it is greater than ever, Senator," said Bail Organa evenly. "I think you will agree once you have heard what your Queen has to say."
Palpatine gestured toward the door, cutting off further argument. "Shall
we proceed? The Defense Committee awaits your presentation, Your Majesty."
The Queen nodded and moved toward the building, her entourage trailing
behind.
Anakin wandered the halls of Government Center, looking for something to occupy his time. Obi-Wan had left him a cryptic message this morning, saying only that he would be in a Senate Committee meeting and that Anakin should meditate on yesterday's lessons. Anakin puzzled over it. It was not unheard of for Obi-Wan to go to Senate meetings – his opinion was respected despite his relative youth – but he usually told his Padawan the details of what was being discussed, and explained the Jedi's role in it.
Anakin spent an hour pacing in the meditation chamber, then went looking for a sparring partner for lightsaber training. He found no takers. He was not really surprised. He had whipped almost all of the Padawans his age at one time or another. Many of them actively disliked him, and the ones who didn't mostly avoided him. He knew that many of the Knights were skeptical of him as well. The Council watched him constantly. He had the feeling that his power frightened them a bit.
So he left the Temple, catching a bus to Government Center. He had originally planned to go to the Research Library, but had ended up wandering the vast halls instead, turning things over in his head. He didn't regret his choice to leave home and become a Jedi, but despite being surrounded by others, he often felt alone. Obi-Wan was his only real friend in the Temple. Anakin got along well with a few Padawans, but was not really close to any of them. Then there was Padmé, whom he hadn't seen for four years, though they corresponded often.
Anakin leaned on the rail next to a large window overlooking the VIP Landing Platform. Padmé, he thought. Force, how I miss her. He watched the holonews constantly, hoping for a glimpse of her. He thought about her last message, how beautiful she had looked and her musical laughter as she told a silly joke. He loved her as much now as he had as a young boy, and she occupied his thoughts constantly, especially when he was lonely. He hoped that he got older, she would get beyond thinking of him as a boy with a crush. Maybe I should go see her. Ask Obi-Wan for some time off and fly one the Temple's shuttles to Naboo.
Absently, he watched as a large VIP shuttle landed on the platform. Must be some real big shot this time. The Supreme Chancellor is waiting for them. His mouth dropped open as Queen Amidala emerged from the shuttle. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, then stretched out with the Force. Sure enough, he brushed up against Padmé's warm presence. He gaped as the Queen and the tall, well-dressed man escorting her greeted Chancellor Palpatine and Senator Bibble, then disappeared into the building.
Shaking off his surprise, Anakin bolted down the hall to the nearest lift, punching the button impatiently. "Please be patient," intoned a mechanical voice. "The lift will be here in fifteen point six seconds." Not willing to wait, Anakin looked around and saw the stairs. He threw open the door and raced down the stairs, taking them three at a time. The platform door was four stories below the observation window. Reaching his destination, he burst through the stairway door, almost knocking over two Bothan bureaucrats and a protocol droid. Mumbling hasty apologies, he looked around for the Queen's party. They were nowhere in sight.
Okay, he thought. Calm down. Focus. He took a deep breath, then reached out again. There, to the left, around the corner. He started to walk down the hall. Shouldering his way through what suddenly seemed to be a large crowd, he turned the corner. Standing on his toes to see over the throng, he saw the Queen and her escorts enter one of the Senate committee chambers at the end of the hall.
Weaving his way through the crowd, he reached the chamber, only to find two Republic Senate Guards posted outside the doors. "I'm sorry, sir," one of them said. "This is a closed hearing. Committee members only."
Anakin turned to leave. He intended to sit on the bench down the hall until the meeting was over. Then he spun back around, a determined look on his face. Making a slight gesture with his hand, he said softly to the other guard, "It's okay, he's cleared."
"It's okay, he's cleared," said the guard. His partner looked puzzled, but he opened the door for Anakin.
Anakin gestured again. "Go right in"
The guard repeated, "Go right in."
"Thank you, gentlemen." Anakin slipped inside the chamber, leaving the
guards to wonder what just happened.
The one hundred-odd members of the Senate Defense Committee were gathered in the room. It was much smaller than the massive main Senate Chamber where the floating platforms were required. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Vice Chairman Mas Amedda were seated on the dais, along with Bail Organa. Queen Amidala stood at the podium.
Boy, they got this thing started quick, thought Anakin as he slipped into a seat in an upper back corner of the large room. Usually, the pomp and protocol associated with any kind of Senate gathering took at least fifteen minutes. He slouched down in the chair and looked around. Hopefully, no one had noticed his surreptitious entry.
He studied the audience. The committee members were there, along with their retinue of aides. The Queen's handmaidens were present, as usual. He saw Captain Panaka standing to one side of the dais, along with a large, no-nonsense man who scanned the audience continually. He was the only one who had noted Anakin's entrance. He must be that other bigwig's bodyguard. All of the Jedi Council members were present, as were several Jedi Knights, including Obi-Wan.
Anakin wondered why Padmé had not contacted him to tell him she was coming to Coruscant. She always had before. Then he realized that Obi-Wan must have known. Why hadn't he said anything? Anakin felt a sudden surge of anger at his master. He quickly squashed it to keep from alerting the other Jedi to his presence. He turned his attention to the Queen's presentation.
"Honorable members, I have requested this committee meeting to present evidence of a threat which holds the potential to dismantle the unity of the Republic." Padmé spoke in what Anakin thought of as her Queen voice, making her sound older than she was. Murmurs rippled through the audience. Anakin sat up a little straighter.
"A few years ago, Naboo's intelligence services began receiving unusual information from the Rim worlds. Reports of isolated settlements being invaded and destroyed by mysterious forces. Because of Naboo's proximity to the Outer Rim, we took these reports seriously, and sent patrols to investigate. Several of these patrols vanished. The others turned up nothing but smoking ruins and destroyed lives. Until just recently."
She looked at Bail Organa before continuing. "A few weeks ago, one of our patrols found a young boy on the Alderaani mineral colony of Sessone. He was the only survivor of one of these vicious attacks. He was badly shaken by his ordeal and was unsure of how long he had been alone, but he was able to describe the attackers in some detail. When we combined this eyewitness account with research and information from other sources, we came to a startling conclusion."
The Queen paused briefly, her eyes sweeping over the audience, then went on, "We believe that this mysterious army is a new incarnation of the ancient Mandalore warrior clan."
There were astonished gasps and rumblings from the committee. The members of the Jedi Council looked at each other thoughtfully. Obi-Wan did not miss the exchange of glances between Yoda and Mace Windu.
Senator Passel Argente stood up. "Really, Queen Amidala, how can you expect us to believe this? The Jedi destroyed the Mandalorians over a thousand years ago. There has been no sign of them since." Murmurs of agreement rolled through the chamber.
Queen Amidala raised her hands for silence. "We have recently come into possession of this recording." She activated the holographic display.
The scene that came to life depicted pure chaos, violent and bloody. Armored soldiers marched through a town, burning homes and firing on residents as they fled. They appeared to be kidnapping some people. The recorder zoomed in on some of the individual soldiers. The Queen froze the projector, showing clearly the weapon-covered armor and the T-shaped slit visors of the soldiers' helmets. The committee erupted again as many recognized the distinctive uniforms of the fierce Mandalore warriors.
Anakin sat straight up, shocked. The hologram before him depicted the armored soldiers from his tortured visions. He stared open-mouthed at the image, then closed his eyes as the vision returned. Pain flooded him. Remembering where he was, he tried to smother his reaction, but it was too late. The other Jedi in the room had already sensed him. Opening his eyes, he saw Obi-Wan looking at him with disappointment. Lowering his head, he got up and slipped out of the room.
"I still do not understand, Your Majesty," said Senator Norb Grey'eyla of Bothanwai. "You're saying that an extinct race has been resurrected and is now threatening the Republic? How could this be?
"If you will allow me to continue, Senator." Queen Amidala restarted the projector. "Please note the activity in the background."
She tapped several commands into the projector's terminal. A scene in the background of all the chaos was magnified and enhanced. The audience watched closely as a Mandalorian soldier sliced the arms of several prisoners and collected blood samples, which were put into some type of device. The Queen stopped the projector again.
"Right now, this is just informed speculation," she said, "but we believe that what you have just witnessed is the collection of suitable specimens for cloning."
The chamber immediately exploded in an uproar. The Queen's face remained impassive as the members shouted and argued. Mas Amedda banged his gavel. "Order! We will have order!" The talk died down as his commanding voice rang through the room.
Senator Argente spoke up again. "You have to admit, Your Majesty, that this is rather surprising. How did you come to such a conclusion?"
"This device," said the Queen. She tapped the terminal again to enhance the image. "It is a biological analyzer of the same type used by the Mining Guild during their experiments with cloning. It was used to determine the viability of a specimen."
"May I ask where you get your information, Your Majesty?" Norb Grey'eyla asked.
"I'm sorry, Senator. Sources and methods," Queen Amidala answered. "I'm sure that you, of all people, can understand that." She smiled slightly at the veiled reference to the widespread tentacles of the Bothan intelligence services.
"The reliability of this source is without question" she continued. Her voice became intense. "Senators, this is a darkness from the distant past. The ancient Mandalores' thirst for conquest is well documented. My world stands in the path of its advance. I call upon the combined strength of the Republic to make a stand against this tide of oppression." She gracefully took her seat.
Bail Organa rose abruptly. "You can see for yourselves the threat we face here," he said. "The Republic military is little more than a peacekeeping and police force. It cannot protect the entire Republic. We need to expand the fleet and strengthen the ground forces if we are to effectively deal with this."
"Deal with what, Prince Organa?" asked Senator Letia Talador of Etti, almost contemptuously. "We have nothing to act on but a recording of dubious origin and lot of speculation!"
"This speculation is based on solid intelligence information and a lot of historical research!" Bail said heatedly. "It's easy to be complacent when the attacks stay out on the Rim. But this army is moving toward the Core. Are we going to wait to hear their footsteps at our doorways before we act?" He waved his arm at the Council. "The Jedi have kept the peace for hundreds of years. But their numbers are dwindling. We have grown soft and lazy behind their protection and left ourselves vulnerable!"
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine stood, silencing the debate. "Queen Amidala,
your claim is a serious one," he said. "But we cannot take military action
without the approval of the full Senate. I can, however, send a small force
to investigate the matter. In the meantime, I will use all my available
resources to discover the truth behind these attacks as expeditiously as
possible."
When Obi-Wan returned to the Temple, he immediately started searching for his apprentice. He wanted to apologize for keeping the Queen's visit a secret. He also wanted to know why the images of the Mandalorian soldiers had caused Anakin to project such strong emotions. Obi-Wan hadn't even been aware of the young man's presence until then.
After checking the gardens, the training rooms and the canteen, Obi-Wan headed for the quarters he shared with his Padawan. He surprised to find Anakin in his room, stretched out on his bunk with his hands behind his head. His apprentice rarely spent time in his room for anything but sleeping and tinkering with one of his myriad of half-built droids. Obi-Wan knocked softly in the doorjamb.
"I've been looking all over for you, Padawan." Obi-Wan sat at the desk. "We've been invited to a reception at the Alderaan Legation tonight." Anakin did not respond. "I am sorry I didn't tell you about the Queen's arrival, but it was a last-minute arrangement."
Anakin remained silent, staring at the ceiling. Obi-Wan pressed on. "I want to know what provoked such a strong reaction in you during the briefing. That's how I knew you were there."
Anakin sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Those warriors in that recording – they are the armored soldiers from my vision, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan looked at him appraisingly for a moment. "Are you sure?" he asked.
Anakin stood up and dragged his hand through his hair, agitated. "Yes, I'm sure!" he said, pacing the small room. "I must've had that vision ten times! I'd recognize them anywhere!"
"All right," Obi-Wan soothed. "Calm down."
"How can I calm down?!" Anakin flared. "Obi-Wan, my mother is going to be hurt, maybe even killed, and those soldiers have something to do with it!"
"You don't know that, Anakin," Obi-Wan said testily. "The future--,"
"I know, I know. 'Always in motion, the future is,'" said Anakin bitterly, mimicking Yoda's voice. "But my instincts tell me that Mom is in danger, and I've never had any reason to doubt them before!" When his master did not reply, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Request permission to take a leave."
Obi-Wan regarded him coldly. "Why? So you can go to Tatooine?" he asked icily. "I think not. Request denied."
"Then I will make my request to the Council!"
Obi-Wan rose and stood toe-to-toe with his apprentice. The Jedi radiated intimidation, and Anakin felt a bit cowed, despite the fact that he stood nearly a head taller. He knew that threatening to go over his master's head was incredibly disrespectful. But he continued to stare insolently down at his teacher.
"The Council has already refused the Supreme Chancellor's request to send us to Tatooine," Obi-Wan said frostily, choosing for the moment to ignore his Padawan's disrespect. "What makes you think they will grant yours?"
He watched Anakin struggle to control his rising anger. They glared at each other a moment longer, then Obi-Wan turned on his heel. "We cannot discuss anything rationally right now. I will return when you have calmed yourself." He strode to the door.
"Obi-Wan…Master…I'm sorry."
Obi-Wan paused in the doorway, sensing Anakin's efforts to push away his anger and let it dissipate into the Force. When he perceived that the boy was calm, he turned to face him, marveling again at the power that pulsed through the young man.
Anakin sat on the bed with his head in his hands. "I had begun to doubt they were real, until I saw that holo. The Mandalorians…" He looked up pleadingly. "Do they really exist?"
"I honestly don't know, Anakin," Obi-Wan answered. "They certainly did at one time, as any student of galactic history could tell you. They were closely aligned with the Sith. That was over a thousand years ago, before the Jedi hunted them down." He sat down at the desk again. "But Queen Amidala is convinced they are back, and she would not make such an assertion without the evidence to back it up. And Prince Organa obviously agrees with her."
Anakin frowned. "Prince Organa? Is that the old guy who came with Padmé?"
"Old guy? That's no way to talk about the Viceroy of Alderaan," teased Obi-Wan. "Besides, he the same age I am."
"Well, you're old, Master," said Anakin with a cheeky grin. He dodged the expected swipe at his head. "And gray!"
"Who do think gives me these gray hairs? Between you and the Council, I'm surprised I don't look like Master Yoda." Obi-Wan yanked on his Padawan's braid.
"Ow!" cried Anakin. "So what's going on with Prince Organa, anyway? Why did he come with Padmé?"
Obi-Wan smiled slightly as he detected a twinge of jealousy. Pretending to ignore the question, he looked around the room. As usual, every horizontal surface was covered with parts from Anakin's various projects. He picked up what he assumed to be the head of a power droid. "Will you ever finish any of these, or are you just amassing dust collectors?"
"Master!" Anakin whined indignantly.
"They're wildly in love, and are carrying on anytime they can seize a private moment." Obi-Wan immediately regretted his words as he saw the stricken look on his apprentice's face. Guess I can't tease him about this anymore. "They are allies, Anakin. Alderaan is a powerful Core world, and Organa's backing bolsters the Queen's influence in this matter. They are united in their goal of goading the Senate into action."
"Whatever," Anakin pouted. "So why didn't you tell me she was coming?"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes, exasperated. "As I explained, Padawan, it was very last minute. And her schedule is very tight. She is only going to be here for a few days, and I didn't want you to be disappointed if she didn't have time to see you."
Anakin eyed him suspiciously. "She's always made time for me before. Why should this trip be any different?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, I would be remiss if I did not tell you of the Council's concerns about you. They think that your feelings for Queen Amidala are an unnecessary distraction from your training."
Anakin threw his arms in the air. "I'm not allowed to have feelings for
my mother! I'm not allowed to have feelings for Padmé! Tell me,
Master, am I permitted to care about anyone, or must I suppress everything?"
"Of course you're allowed to care for others, Ani," Obi-Wan said gently.
"And you should not suppress your emotions, only control them, so that
they do not control you." He ruffled the young man's hair. I can hardly
reach his head when he's standing. "And in this case, I disagree with
the Council. I know how isolated you feel sometimes. I think your friendship
with the Queen is important."
"So I can go see her?" Anakin asked hopefully.
"Yes, Padawan, you may go see her." Obi-Wan gave him a stern look. "Just be sure you don't interfere with her duties or otherwise make a pest of yourself. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Anakin said impatiently as he grabbed his cloak. "I'll see you later," he called over his shoulder as he bolted from the apartment.
"Don't forget about the reception!" Obi-Wan called after him.
Sabé looked around the empty foyer in confusion. The guard outside had announced a Jedi visitor for the Queen, but there was no one around. She stepped over to the intercom to call the guard for verification. Before she could activate it, she felt something poke her in the back.
"Hey, little girl," came a nasally voice, "ya wanna see my lightsaber?"
Before the speaker finished his sentence, Sabé was in motion, spinning around with her tiny concealed blaster in hand. A powerful hand grabbed her wrist, and she looked up into the grinning face of—
"Anakin Skywalker!" she snapped. "I swear, one of these days…" She waved the blaster menacingly.
"Ooh, promises, promises," he said in his normal voice, flashing her a cocky grin. He bent down to kiss the handmaiden's cheek. "You're as beautiful as ever."
"And you are so full of it," she replied acidly. She craned her neck to look at him as he towered over her. "But I guess that's understandable. You've gotten so tall that no oxygen is getting to that little pea brain of yours."
"And your disposition is just as sweet as always," Anakin observed, laughing as he dodged a vicious right hook. He walked into the sitting room. "So where is she?"
"I am sorry, but Her Highness is not here right now." Sabé grinned wickedly at the anguished look on his face.
There was a long pause as he looked at her expectantly. "So…where can I find her?" he asked.
"Don't know," she said with a smug smile.
"Liar." He tried to be patient, knowing how much she enjoyed tormenting him. "Aw, come on, Sabé, please…"
She let him stew for a few minutes before relenting. "I don't know where Her Highness is. However, Padmé is in her office."
He was looming over her in an instant, humorously threatening. "Do you know what the punishment is for a handmaiden who teases a Jedi?"
"Ooh, promises, promises," she mocked, pushing him away. "Now go see her before you enter hormonal overload."
Anakin headed down the hall. He passed Saché as she was coming out of another room. He gave her a slight bow and a wink as he slipped into the Queen's office.
"Who was that?" Saché asked.
"Anakin Skywalker," answered Sabé with a grin.
"Really?" Saché raised her eyebrows in approval. "Well! He's certainly grown up! And quite nicely, I might add."
"I thought you had your eye on Bail Organa."
"I do, but you know he's enamored of the Queen right now," said Saché.
"And it never hurts to have a backup plan."
Anakin looked around the Queen's empty office. The big desk was a disaster area, littered with datacards and flimsies. The data reader was still blinking. Anakin frowned – it wasn't like Padmé to leave her work area in such disarray. He reached out with the Force to locate her. She was out on the balcony. He frowned again as he sensed her frustration and uncertainty.
Slipping soundlessly through the door, he saw her at the far end of the balcony. She was leaning on the railing, gazing out over the city. She was dressed in a simple handmaiden's gown, and her dark hair flowed loose over her shoulders. The strands around her face danced in the light breeze. Anakin simply stared at her for a moment, basking in the warm glow of her presence.
Gliding up behind her, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Are you an angel?"
"Ani!" Padmé cried in delight. Turning around, she threw her arms around his waist and hugged him.
"Who else?" he said with a grin. Putting his arms around her, he crushed her in a tight hug, then picked her up and whirled her around, taking her breath away.
"Easy, Ani, you're going to break my ribs!" she laughed. He set her down and kissed her cheek. "Here, let me look at you."
Padmé looked him over, feeling a pleasant thrill of surprise. Wow. His holo-messages did not do him justice. Gone was the gangly teenager she had seen four years ago. In his place stood a good-looking young man nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a lithely muscular build. His short blond spikes accentuated his tanned face and handsome features. But his sparkling blue eyes were the same as those of the small boy she had first met on Tatooine. "I can't believe how tall you are!"
Anakin rolled his eyes at the oft-heard remark, then took her hand and raised it to his lips. "And you are lovelier than ever," he said, looking directly into her brown eyes and giving her a roguish grin.
Flushing, Padmé pulled her hand away. "You're still quite the charmer, I see." Suddenly uncomfortable, she moved away from him a bit. "So what are you up to these days?"
"Oh, about 195 centimeters." He flinched as she pulled his braid. "Ow! What was that for?"
"You are such a smart-aleck, Anakin Skywalker!" She took his hand. "Really, how have you been doing?"
"Oh, you know, same stuff, different day. Obi-Wan tortures me, and I give him gray hairs." He gave her a hurt look. "Of course, I would be better if my best friend would tell me that she is coming to visit, instead of just sneaking into town!"
"I hardly sneaked into town!" said Padmé indignantly. She had half-expected this and it put her on the defensive. "It was a last-minute decision and I didn't have a chance to call you, that's all."
"You and Obi-Wan must be using the same script. He said exactly the same thing."
"Anakin, my original itinerary didn't even include coming to Coruscant. I had planned on just going from Naboo to Alderaan—"
Anakin pulled his hand away from hers. "And why were you going to Alderaan, Your Highness?" he asked, his voice cold.
Padmé's eyes narrowed at his tone. "Not that it's any of your business, but I went to confer with Bail Organa about some security matters."
"Oh, really? And why would you need to confer with the Viceroy of Alderaan on matters of Naboo security? Panaka not doing his job?" He turned his back on her, angry and jealous.
Padmé looked at him for a long moment, hurt and confused by his behavior. Finally, she took his arm and pulled him around to face her. He refused to meet her eyes.
"Ani, please," she said. "I had every intention of calling you when we got here. I've really missed you." She touched his face, forcing him to look at her. "We haven't seen each other for four years, and I'm not going to be here long. We shouldn't waste what little time we have together arguing."
His expression softened. "You're right, of course. I'm sorry." He suddenly felt ashamed. She had given him no reason to be angry with her, and he had no right to question her association with other planetary leaders. But he had never considered the possibility that she might be romantically interested in another man, and the mere thought drove him crazy. "I've just been feeling kind of lonely lately, and I was afraid that you were avoiding me."
"I should've called you, Ani, I really should have. But I got so busy, and kept telling myself that I'd call you when I got here and that you would understand." She frowned and touched the last vestige of the bruise on his left cheekbone. "What happened to your eye?"
He blushed. "I beat on another Padawan's fist with my face."
"Why?"
"He insulted my mother." Anxious to change the subject, he intertwined his fingers with hers and smiled. "You know what's weird? I was at Government Center this morning. I was thinking about going to Naboo to visit you, and I looked out the window and there you were, on the landing platform."
"You saw me arrive at the Senate this morning?"
He nodded. "It surprised me, to say the least. So I followed you to the committee meeting."
"That was supposed to be a closed meeting," Padmé said. "How did you get in?"
Anakin studied his boots. "Well, I kind of Mind-Tricked the guards into letting me in," he said sheepishly.
Padmé cocked an eyebrow. "I thought that Jedi weren't supposed to use their powers like that."
"It was a desperate situation!" Anakin said, grinning. "I had to see you!"
Padmé shook her head, smiling. "You're impossible," she said affectionately. "So you saw my presentation?"
He nodded. "Enough of it, anyway." At her puzzled look, he continued, "Those armored soldiers – the Mandalore – I have visions about them."
"Really?" She knew that the Jedi were sometimes able to glimpse the future. "What do you see?"
He didn't answer right away. He dropped her hand and leaned on the railing, his eyes taking on a distant look. "I'm not sure," he said finally. "Obi-Wan says that I can't take all my visions literally, that I need to meditate on them to figure out what they mean."
"So have you meditated on them?" Padmé asked. He shook his head and flashed that roguish grin again, making her feel a little weak-kneed. What's wrong with me? "Why not?"
He moved closer to her. "Because I hate meditating. Besides, I'd rather spend that time with you." He took her hand again, caressing it gently. Her cheeks pinkened charmingly. He could sense her confusion and realized that she was affected by his nearness. He smiled to himself, pleased. Maybe she was starting to recognize that he wasn't a kid anymore. Ladies had started to pay a lot of attention to him in the past couple of years, but this was the only woman he wanted to impress.
Padmé met his eyes. They're so blue, she thought. Like Naboo's springtime sky. Flustered, she stepped away abruptly, heading for the door. "Let's go in and sit down." Entering her office, she sat down behind her desk, and waved him toward a chair. She looked at the mess on the desktop and sighed.
Anakin sat down opposite her and propped his elbows on the desk. He probed at her with the Force. He sensed frustration, anger, and uncertainty. The first two emotions had to so with the Senate, he was sure. The uncertainty was related to something else. He couldn't pinpoint it. Maybe it's because of me? "Never known you to be this disorganized, Padmé. What's wrong?"
She sat back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "I was just wondering how old I'm going to get before the Senate decides to act on my information." She started straightening up the datacards and flimsies.
Anakin reached across the desk and touched her arm. "Leave it," he said. "You need to relax. Why don't we go for a walk in the Temple Gardens?"
Before she could reply, there was a tap at the door and Sabé stuck her head inside. "Pardon me, Your Highness, but it is time to get ready." She smirked wickedly at Anakin, who looked at her as if she was stealing his dessert. He stuck his tongue out at her. She made a rude gesture in return.
"Thank you, Sabé. I'll be right there." Padmé replied, grinning at their exchange.
Sabé shot him an "ha-ha, I win" expression before she withdrew.
Anakin watched Padmé as she finished organizing her paperwork. "Get ready for what?" he asked.
She blew a strand of hair out her face in frustration. "I have a business dinner, then a reception at the Alderaan Legation. You know how long it takes for me to become the Queen."
Anakin stood up to leave. "I have to go to that reception too," he said. He gave her a slight bow. "May I have the honor of escorting you?"
She hesitated. "Thank you, Ani, but Prince Organa is escorting me." Seeing the storm cloud that came over his face, she added hastily, "This has nothing to do with you, Ani. It's politics."
When he said nothing, she came around the desk and took his hand. "How about this? Rabé and Saché are attending me tonight, so Sabé is free. Why don't you escort her, and we'll meet at the reception?"
He regarded her for a moment longer before nodding. "Assuming I can survive an evening with your ill-tempered bodyguard, just promise you'll save me at least one dance."
She laughed, then drew herself up regally. "I will consider it, young Jedi,"
she said in her Queen Amidala voice. She grabbed his braid and pulled him
toward the door. "Now, begone with you, so that I may prepare myself!"
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