She knew non-Jedi were technically not allowed in the Temple. But, she thought, that was a rule to keep ruffians and scoundrels out. Not distinguished senators. Plus, I need to see Obi-Wan. I need to know that he's okay. If anything happens to him, it will be my fault.
However, her plan had two rather large errors. Because nobody was allowed in the Temple, there were no floor plans of the Temple available publicly. This was both strategic and infuriating at the same time. Strategic because if anyone was foolish enough to siege it, the Jedi would have a definite advantage and infuriating because it prevented senators from sneaking around. And secondly off this point, the Jedi Temple was huge. 500,000 square metres in total, it stood as a safe harbour away from the galaxy the Jedi carried on their shoulders. It was a sacrosanct place, a harmonious place, a cherished place, even to those without the Force.
She silently thanked, well something, that nobody was in the halls at the time. Padme had heard Obi-Wan and Anakin speak in hushed tones about how empty the Temple was. And she had never believed them, until now. It was both a blessing and a curse.
The grief had come later that night, after Obi-Wan had fled. It hit Padme when she was alone and most vulnerable. That's the way it always with grief. It knows when we're at our weakest and strikes the final blow. It had come in the air, a breath of mint and cardamom, a scent that grown to mean home. Right now, it was anything but. It was a reminder; a reminder that he wasn't coming home, that he would never come home.
The sudden call of voices alerted Padme to the approach of a few Jedi students. Skittering into a nearby niche behind a statue of some famous Jedi, she listened as they walked by.
"Did you hear that there's another tree next to Ka'rta now? They're saying Master Kenobi planted it for his padawan. I heard everyone's calling it Ad'ike."
"Really? I saw Master Kenobi in Garden of Repose pressing his forehead to Ka'rta and crying a few weeks ago. I wanted to say something but he probably wanted to be alone."
I need to see those trees, Padme decided. Stepping out of the cove and startling the students, she pulled her calm and collected senatorial identity close about her.
"Greetings, master Jedi." The students flushed, hey a little flattery goes a long way. "I was just admiring this fine statue when I remembered I have an appointment in the Garden of Repose but I'm afraid I've got no idea how to get there. Could you point me in the correct direction?"
The students gave her a apprehensive look and exchanged nervous eye contact before concluding the senator meant no harm. The older of the two, a Togrutan with sharply pointed mustard and navy lekku, stepped forward and bowed.
"Welcome to the Temple but we are most definitely not masters. I am Initiate Fahn-et and this is my friend Initiate Uei." The younger one waved enthusiastically before remembering her manners and bowing. Fahn-et gave a little snort at the Uei's antics before continuing. "At the end of this hallway, take a right and walk until you see a set of large wooden doors on your right. Keep going past those doors and you'll find a small stone door inset in the wall. Go through that and you should reach a chamber with desks and stuff. That's the study room off the archives. The glass doors on the other side of the chamber lead straight out into the Garden. I'm afraid if you get lost there won't be many people around to ask for help. Most of the Temple is at midday meal."
It was at this point that Uei chimed in, a lavender-haired Balosari, her high voice overflowing with excitement.
"We would walk there ourselves but we have a lesson with Master Drallig! He promised to show us Makashi!"
"It's no problem, young one. That sounds much more exciting than showing a woman through the Temple. I will find my own way, thank you." Padme dipped her head gently, showing her thanks before turning on her heels and continuing on her way away from the students. She waited until they were out of sight before breaking into a full-on sprint through the hallways. They were right when they said everyone was at the commissaries; Padme didn't encounter another living soul as she ran to the garden. The Garden was long and rectangular with a covered cloister running on the longer sides and a myriad of shrubs and bushes along the edges. There were only two trees in the space, one tall and mighty oak, and one thin and tiny sapling. Ka'rta and A'dike no doubt. Stepping fully into the space, she heard a soft voice from across the garden. A brown-cloaked figure knelt in between the two trees. A figure with ginger hair. Obi-Wan! Padme quietly snuck closer to him and hid behind a patch of tall grasses so she could hear him better, and maybe catch him if he tries to run again.
"Master, please if you can hear me, forgive me for this. Forgive me for what I'm about to do. And Anakin, my child, if you can hear me, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. Everything I did and everything in the future. It's for the best. I promise, it's for the best. I can't stand seeing what this place did to you. I have to take care of Kingpin. I have to do this."
Padme's blood ran cold, what is he going to do? Should I tell someone? What if he harms himself or others? But before she could make any move, the garden went suddenly quiet. She looked up and saw Obi-Wan looking directly at the grasses she was concealed behind. The senator took a sharp inhale and hoped that he wouldn't see her. Slowly, Obi-Wan turned back to the trees and continued speaking. Padme crept out from her hideaway and approached her friend until she stood a step behind him. Softly she called out as to not startle him.
"Obi-Wan, it's Padme. Can I talk to you?"
She was not gifted with a response. She reached out to touch his shoulder, and immediately regretted it. The Jedi whirled around pulling his sabre to his hand but not having time to ignite it as Padme knocked it to the ground.
"Obi-Wan! Calm down! It's me! It's Padme. I'm sorry I startled you, I just need to talk to you. Please. I'm sorry about what I did. I shouldn't have said those things." She was met with silence, suffocating as the unspoken emotions pressed upon both their chests. Obi-Wan's bottle-glass eyes searched hers; searching for something, anything to bring peace to his heart.
He found none.
"Padme, I have to go. I was assigned a mission and it's a priority and there's people in danger. I don't know when I'll be back. Now, I have to go or I'll miss my transit. Goodbye." His tone was aloof and succinct, sparing no time for emotions. The epitome of a Jedi.
And once again, in a blur of cream and tan, the Jedi was gone.
"Obi-Wan!" Padme called after him, reaching out for the ghost of a man burdened by grief. She caught nothing. Turning back to the monolithic trees in front of her, she lowered herself to the ground in front of the small elm and stretched out a gentle hand to stroke the leaves. Her hand shook, the weight of melancholy once again pressed upon her. She didn't need to be Force-sensitive to feel the love and devotion pulsing within the trees. The final vanguard broke, and Padme cried. No, she sobbed. She got as close as she could to the small trunk and hugged it. After all, it was the last remaining reminder of her husband. The child within her was precious no doubt, but it was its own living being, not a replacement for Anakin. Never a replacement for Anakin.
Unbeknown to Padme, she was not alone. Hidden behind a stone column in the cloister were two of the highest ranking Jedi in the Order.
"Does she know non-Jedi require an escort in the Temple?" Eeth Koth whispered.
The soft rumbling voice of Plo Koon answered him, "Just let her be, she means no harm. It's clear she needs this. Peace is not often found after grief and this is just one step on the long road to acceptance."
"I forget that humans deal with grief much differently than my species. Plo, when did you get so wise about humans' emotions?"
"Practice, unfortunately. Too much practice. Rarely have Jedi been directly involved in wars, and we are dearly paying the price. Who are we to deny safe haven to a aching heart?" The Kel Dor swept his arm to the woman still weeping in the garden. With the gesture, he sent a calming wave of sleep to the senator who gasped once and slid to the ground, asleep. "Now, come and help me carry her to the guest quarters."
They were an odd sight for sure. Eeth Koth parting the crowds returning from midday meal as Plo Koon carried the unconscious form of a distinguished senator, fireman style, down the halls. A few masters stopped and raised a finger to ask a question but immediately dropped it and shook their heads.
Plo gently set the senator down on the bed and removed her shoes.
"Now we must let her rest, I will have some food sent down here for later." he commented before turning to leave the quarters. Koth closed the shades and followed after the Kel Dor, changing the 'No Resident' sign on the outside of the apartment to read "Senator Amidala of Naboo".
It was nearing nine hours postmeridian when Padme finally awoke. Startled by the unfamiliar surroundings she blinked rapidly. Realizing she was in the Temple, a exasperated thought escaped her mouth.
"Kriffing Jedi and their kriffing mind tricks."
She dragged herself out of bed and into the simple but spacious refresher. She looked terrible and she knew it. Her hair was mussed, her eyes red-rimmed, and makeup completely smeared. Just as she was about to step into the sonic shower for a much needed wash, an urgent doorbell interrupted. Throwing on the plush robe provided, she moved to the door and pressed the 'open' button. Her eyes bulged when she saw who stood at the door. All remaining eleven members of the Jedi High Council. Every single one.
"Ma… Masters, I did not expect all of you. My apologies for my state of attire." She stuttered, suddenly feeling very vulnerable.
"It is no problem, Senator. We understand that you were not expecting us. However, we do have some rather urgent business, may we come in?" Master Billaba spoke, her cultured tones calming Padme's nerves.
"Absolutely! Please," The senator spoke, stepping back to allow them to enter. "If I may ask, can I be given a moment to dress? I am not in appropriate attire."
"Of course, we will make ourselves comfortable."
Padme nodded nervously, a faint smile on her face before dashing into the refresher to clothe. Pausing for a moment to look in the mirror, she splashed water on her face before summoning her courage and stepping out. All eleven Councillors looked rather crammed into the small living room, taking residence on the arms of couches, and chairs as well as in them as well. However, there was one seat in the centre of the group left empty. Oh great. A front row seat with eleven of the most intimidating people ever. Deep, calm breathes. Deep, calm breathes.
It took all of her twenty years of diplomatic training to not run away under the pressure. Seating herself in the chair gracefully, Padme plastered a smile upon her face and greeted them all, "How can I help the Jedi High Council? Surely a senator like me is not that interesting."
Small chuckles passed through them. Good, she mused, lighten the mood a little bit.
"Actually, Senator Amidala, it is your relationship to Obi-Wan Kenobi which we have come to speak to you about. I'm afraid we have some rather frightful news." Padme's face paled, oh no he did do something harmful and I just sat there.
It was Shaak Ti who took over for the remainder of the conversation, "As of one hour postmeridian, Obi-Wan Kenobi is missing. He stole a starfighter from the Temple hangar without prior mission approval and gave no indication of his destination or motive. This is a breach in protocol and I must say we are in shock. These actions are not in his nature. We understand he has been under considerable duress but we did not believe it would escalate to this. You are the last one to have spoken to him. Did he give any indication of his plans?"
The senator sat for a minute in pure horror. Obi-Wan missing? How many more friends can I lose? No, no. Obi-Wan is not lost. There has to be a reason for this. There has to be.
"Well, I don't think he said anything particularly of interest. When I spoke to him, he was in the Garden of Repose sitting in front of the trees. I've heard they have special meaning to him. I was just not aware of how much. He was talking to the trees, saying things like 'please forgive me' and 'I'm sorry for what I'm going to do'... I thought it was grief at first but now that you're here, I know it's something more. There was one more thing that he said, it was a name. But not like a normal name that you would give a person. Oh what was it… king… king something. Kingpin! That's it, Kingpin! He said 'I have to take care of Kingpin'."
If Padme could get any more anxious, the Council's actions after that statement would have sent her stomach to the centre of Coruscant. The Jedi all shot uneasy glances at each other and a few exchanged hushed words with one another.
"What? What is it? What's Kingpin?"
"Thank you for your insight. Please enjoy the facilities we have to offer for as long as you like. If you wish to explore the Temple, you can call for a padawan escort by using the comm centre. Now, you must excuse us. We have urgent business to discuss."
In one fluid motion, the entire Council stood up and moved to leave. Padme was not having any of it. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.
"Now wait a minute!" She exclaimed, running over to stand between the Council and the door. "You are going to explain to me what Kingpin is now or so help me! I'm tired of being pushed aside by you mystical space wizards simply because I am not one of you! I am a dear friend of Obi-Wan and I deserve to know what is going on!" She was on the verge of yelling at this point and her fierce demeanor caused several of the Council members to send stern glances her way. However, she swore she could see Plo Koon's face rise with a smile behind his mask.
"Senator, it will take a long while to explain the entirety of the operation and we do not have that kind of time at the moment. However, you may join us on the mission to go track down Obi-Wan. We will leave in forty minutes from Hangar Senth."
Gently, Ki-Adi-Mundi placed a hand on the younger woman's shoulder to push her aside as the Council walked out.
Her mind was spinning with a thousand thoughts but she managed to call out once more.
"Wait! Where are we going?"
"Kamino. We're going to Kamino."
Ka'rta: the Mandalorian word for 'heart'.
Ad'ike: the Mandalorian word for 'son'.