I honestly should have posted this weeks ago! I completely forgot how far along this story was officially up to on this site! My bad! Good news is I'm already halfway done with chapter 5 though, so that should be good, right? I hope I can get more updates for this story out at a better pace. If I am being honest, balancing my own group of assassins that also some how fits in this world and is something the character would want to do, is not easy. But, I will figure it out.

Happy reading!

-DFD

Chapter 4

Anakin watches as Obi-Wan pulls the kouhun towards him with the force and cut through them with his lightsaber. With the insects out of the way, its one less thing he has to worry about. Leaping onto the last speeder, he force jumps far enough to reach the window. Bringing his arms up to brace against the impact, he lets his body fly though the window, rolling to distribute the energy of the jump. He senses Typho's blaster pointed at him and with a smooth motion, he ignites his bracer blade and cuts through the barrel before turning to meet Obi-Wan's blade. Pushing his hand out, he force pushes the Jedi away before waving his hand in an arch to push the other guards away. Using their momentary lapse to his advantage, he deactivates his blade and quickly moved over to where the senator lies in the bed.

One of her hands is wrapped around her neck where she was bit. The other clutched at the front of her nightgown over her heart. Her eyes were dilated and her breath was shallow as she struggled through the pain to stay alive. As he approached, he watched as she stared up at him, terrified. He can't really blame her. While her security is still alive, he could have easily killed them- maybe not Kenobi, but still.

Reaching into one of the pockets on his bandolier, he pulls out a hypodermic needle with a red fluid inside. Leaning over her, he pressed the tip to her neck and injected it into her carotid artery. Igniting his bracer blade he turns just in time to block Kenobi's strike once more. Ducking under his counter attack he points the tip mere centimeters from Kenobi's throat. "I'm not the assassin." Anakin said.

"You're not exactly convincing." Obi-Wan said, backing away to try and put distance between them, but Anakin followed him step for step.

"I just saved her." He said, "The venom of a kouhun is easily countered by a concentrated mixture of srylohs venom."

"Never heard of it," Obi-Wan said, sweeping his lightsaber up to break the line to his neck. Before lunging to strike.

Anakin had expected such a move and the moment his line was broken he arched his blade down to catch the attack, drawing the lightsaber at his belt and igniting it next to Kenobi's neck while his bracer caught the riposte. "I wouldn't expect you to." He said, "Its not found on any planet in your Jedi Archives." Behind him he can hear Typho's hushed words to Padme as she starts to recover from the ordeal. She's alive. That's all that matters. Directing his attention back to the Jedi, he sends a hard kick at his knee, breaking his stance just enough to escape. Running for the broken window, he hurdles out in a dive straight down.

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Padme let out a series of coughs as she started to feel the pressure on her chest release. Typho was at her side with his arm around her shoulder trying to comfort her as the medical droid entered the room to check on her. She barely even noticed anything though. She had been so sure she was going to die. The moment she saw that thing on her, the moment it bit her, she thought this was the end. To her surprise, despite popular belief that in the moment of death, your life flashes before your eyes, she hadn't seen that. Instead she saw all the things she hadn't done. The adolescence she missed out on because she was a queen, the friends she lost touch with because her work got in the way of having a normal social life, the family she had wanted but never had the time to focus on; she loves her job. She loves what she does and she knew what she was sacrificing to do it; but only now does that weight feel heavy on her shoulders.

She heard the hushed words Obi-Wan and Typho were sharing. Talk about the man in the mask who had jumped through her window and took down her security and stood toe to toe with a Jedi with ease. The man who had injected something into her neck that had some how saved her.

"Whoever that is, I don't trust him." Obi-Wan said; his arms crossed over his chest, "He was obviously watching and knew what was happening. What if he's the assassin and he's just trying to trick us?"

Typho nodded, "Then perhaps its time we took more drastic security precautions." He suggested.

"I shall bring this before the council and seek their advice on the matter." The Jedi said, "For now, I doubt he will try anything else tonight."

Padme was too shocked to speak. She was at a loss of words as the droid proclaimed her healthy and the only medical issue was the elevated blood pressure associated with the adrenaline rush of almost dying. She didn't want drastic security. The vote was too close. And yet by the looks of it, there wasn't an alternative. She will protest with the Chancellor when she has the chance, but given the circumstances, what are the chances he will agree?

Typho ordered his men to clean up the shattered glass as quickly as possible to give Padme the chance to sleep. He promised he would stand right outside the door and that all will be better soon. Dorme offered to stay in the room with her and Padme scooted to one side as her friend took up the other side. She was tired but she couldn't sleep.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Dorme asked, well aware she was still awake.

Padme sighed and rolled onto her back, "I almost died." She said, "I almost died, but someone saved me."

"We don't know that for sure," Dorme said, "Master Kenobi thinks whoever that is has his own plans for doing this."

"Maybe," She said, "But am I crazy for thinking otherwise?" She asks.

Dorme gives a shrug, "You've been through a lot for one day," She said, "try to get some sleep."

Nodding her head, Padme turns back to her now broken window that is covered to keep the wind out. She had hoped that she would get at least some answers tonight but instead she was left with more questions. And most of them focus on the masked man. Who is he? What does he want? She isn't going to get these answers any time soon. Closing her eyes, she prepares herself for the argument to come pertaining to her protection.

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The wind hit him hard as he fell, rippling through his clothes as he dodged speeders and walkways before turning onto his back and firing an ascension cable to lock onto the side of a building. The cable stopped him from falling further down while also sending him swinging back and forth in the air wildly as he slowly loses momentum. As his feet flew close to a walkway, he disconnected from the cable so he could land and quickly started walking away.

The attack was a close call- too close. Shaking his head, he couldn't risk such a mistake again. He realizes he can't simply just sit back and wait. He needs answers. Anakin makes his way far down the walkway before throwing himself over the edge into oncoming traffic. Landing in the passenger seat of a speeder, he pulls out the blaster from his holster and points it at the driver's head.

"Pull over and get out." He orders. The driver holds her hands up and does as she is told. Forcing her out quickly, he drives away, knowing he doesn't have long before the police are on his trail. He flies for about ten minutes in the direction of the bar he knows he has a potential contact to help him before parking it several blocks away and making his way to the bar.

The bass of the music echoes off the walls as he walks inside. Pulling his mask off he lowers his hood and scans the room. Walking over to the bar counter he orders a drink and waits. He knows tomorrow the plan changes. The senator will most likely have better security, which will make it more difficult for him to get in to protect her if he needs to. But hopefully that also makes the assassin's job harder too. A twi'lek woman soon occupies the empty seat next to him. Their eyes meet for a moment, "What is it you seek?" She asks, her eyes raking over his form while her fingers play with the string of her cloak.

She was a prostitute. The way she spoke, the way she looked at him gave it away clearly. But the way she played with the strings of her cloak not only gave him a nice view of her cleavage but also the small fan tattooed on her flesh. She was one of the Shadow Guard contacts. "A friend." He said, reaching into his coat before putting his closed fist in her hand, opening it just enough so she can feel what is in his hand. Her delicate fingers trace over the simple pattern engraved in the coin; an eye in a circle.

Her eyes meet his and she nods, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet and wrapping her arm around his as if he'd just bought her time. "Right this way, love." She said with a giggle as she led him to her quarters in the back. They kept up the charade until the door to her room closed behind her and she quickly detached herself from him, moving to the other end of the room, pouring them both a glass of emerald wine.

Passing him a glass, they both raised it in a small casual toast, "Raokir ta y ov aczi," They said before drinking.

She downed the whole glass in one big gulp before putting the glass down on her dresser, "So," She started, "What brings you here?"

Anakin puts down his half full glass next to hers, "Information." He said, "I'm tracking the assassin after Senator Amidala have you heard anything?"

"I hear everything." She said, "But this plot… I hear things. Contradicting things. Things that I can't verify."

Anakin nods, "What do you know for certain?"

"A name." She said, "Zam. Zam Wesell. She's behind the attempts. But she works for the real bounty hunter."

"And that is?"

She shakes her head, "I don't know." She said, "But if you corner Zam I know this guy will kill her before she can say a word."

He nods his head and pulls out a handful of credits and places them on her dresser, "Thanks." He said, pulling up his hood and leaving. This isn't good. The way things are unfolding – or not unfolding- he worries that he will not be able to keep her alive. Clearly her enemies are well prepared. The Shadow Guard utilizes contacts most consider lowlifes just for this purpose. No one would believe the word of a whore, thief, or a street urchin over someone with prestige, which makes them the perfect contacts. But if they can't even find information, he knows this is bad. He knows there is something bigger at play.

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Padme left the chancellor's office at a brisk pace. Typho walked closely behind, trying to assure her that she would be safer on Naboo. But it wasn't safety that worried her. The vote was coming up and she was going to miss it. She now needed to leave her job in Jar Jar's hands and as much as she trusts him, she worries how her departure will affect the views of the other senators. Will they back out their support because the threat is so great she is running? The threat an army poses to the security of the Republic is far greater than the threat to her life. She doesn't want to die. She wants the chance to have all the things she doesn't have. But she can't leave this unfinished. She can't allow children to grow up in a world that has the threat of a war hanging over their heads.

By the time she returns to her apartment, Dorme has already started packing her. And Jar Jar smiled and waved to her. Returning his smile, she pulled him to the side to leave him with instructions for while she's gone. Jar Jar over dramatically accepted the responsibility and she resisted laughing at how he spoke like he just accepted the chancellor's seat. "Jar Jar," She interrupts, "I don't mean to hold you up. I'm sure you have a great deal to do."

"Of course, milady," He says before turning to leave.

Turning sharply on her heels she enters her bedroom where Obi-Wan is waiting, "I do not like this idea of hiding," She said.

"I understand, milady," He said, "But until we find out who this assassin is and catch him, I'm afraid we have little choice."

Padme picks up a small pile of her folded clothes and starts to help pack for the trip back to Naboo, "I haven't spent a year fighting this act to not be here when its fate is decided."

"It's not ideal, but you've done your part in voicing your opinion and I'm sure those you have brought to your side will be able to finish what you started."

She shook her head, "It doesn't always work like that." She said, "Some of them will get scared. And that makes all my effort for nothing."

Obi-Wan crossed his arms across his chest, "Perhaps," He admitted, "But maybe your allies are stronger than you think." He said, giving her a reassuring smile, "In order to avoid detection, we have decided to travel as refugees," He said, pacing the width of the room as he explained the plan.

Padme listened carefully to Obi-Wan's well thought out plan for getting her back to Naboo. As far as avoiding assassins went, it wasn't exactly what she expected. She thought it meant more security and relocation to a place so remote no one would find her. Instead, her relocation was almost entirely in her hands, pending approval from the queen.

As she finished packing, Obi-Wan excused himself so she could get ready to leave. As upset as she was about being forced to leave, she was looking forward to going home. With everything that is going on, she is glad she will have the chance to see her family and spend time in the Lake Country, which she hasn't been back to in a long time. Padme changed into the clothes she was to travel in. The mustard colored dress was much simpler than the outfits she wore in the senate with its simple floral pattern and plain colors. But it would serve its purpose. Adjusting the headpiece, she lets out a breath and a silent prayer that things will be resolved quickly.

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Padme smiled at R2 as he brought over a bowl of soup for her. Obi-Wan sat across from her and it was a little weird seeing him not dressed in his Jedi robes. He didn't blend into the crowd of refugees with the way he carried himself with a grace and elegance that would easily give away to charade if one looked hard enough. Though, she had to admit she didn't blend in well either. Despite wearing a much simpler dress, it was still far better than the dirty worn clothes many others had on.

They ate in relative silence but Padme didn't enjoy that. It left her to her thoughts. And right now there was just too much on it right now. "You seem rather calm given the situation." She started, hoping to get a reaction out of him.

"It's not the first time I've been on a protection mission." He said.

"Really?" She asked.

He nodded, "I once had to keep someone protected for months. And that was back when I was a padawan."

Padme's eyes widen a moment. She had forgotten to ask him about Anakin before. "Don't you have a padawan?" She asked, "I have to admit I was a little surprised not to see him with you."

Obi-Wan's gaze dropped down to his food, "He's not my apprentice any more." He said, "He… Left. I haven't seen him in a few years."

Padme looked up at the news. "Why?"

He gave a shrug, "Disagreed with the code and our methods." He said.

"Where did he go?"

Obi-Wan let out a sigh and shook his head, "I have no idea. He might have gone back to Tatooine, or he could have gone somewhere else."

That was not the answer she was looking for. Now she isn't sure about what happened in the fire. "I could have sworn…" She whispers under her breath before shaking her head. She could have sworn it had been him that night. And maybe it was; it explained why she didn't know he was there. But why did he run off? She could tell Obi-Wan was uncomfortable talking about it from the way his shoulders tensed and how he didn't look up when he spoke about it. He was ashamed of it. Turning back to her meal, she shifted her attention to that for now.

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The trip to Naboo had been far from comfortable for him. Crammed between two beings so large his shoulders ached from the near constant pressure of their bodies pressed against him. He could have moved. He could have found a better place to sit for the long trip. But the seat he had gave him the best view of the senator and her companion while still being far enough away they wouldn't see him. He worried the Jedi would sense him. Worried that they would think he was the assassin. But there was little choice in the matter. After the night attack, he had taken every precaution to prevent such a close call again. Anti venom, long-range sight, improved sensors in his mask… whatever he could think of. He knows the next attack is going to be very close. He knows that chances are time is running out for the assassin to finish the job so her next attempt will probably be made at a much closer distance to assure its success.

Once the ship landed, Anakin made his way directly to the palace. He had to get there before she did so he could find a way into the meeting with the queen. After knocking out a guard and hiding the body, he found a place to hide behind one of the opulent pillars just before the throne room. The space he hid in was very tight laving very little room for him move. The spot was in a risky position. Just on the other side of the wall were two armed guards and in front of the pillar on the opposite side of the door, R2 stood vigil as he waited for his mistress. Anakin could sense Obi-Wan's unease. He obviously could sense something was wrong as he reached out with the force to try to find him.

The political babble during the meeting meant nothing to Anakin. Talk of Gunray and the Separatists and the threat of war… it was boring. But as the meeting ended and the queen directed the conversation to where Padme was going to hide, his attention peaked.

"I was thinking I would stay in the Lake Country," She said, "There are some places up there that are very isolated."

"And you agree with that, Master Jedi?" Governor Bibble asked.

Obi-Wan nodded, "I have not had the privilege of being on Naboo very often." He said, "I trust her insight in this matter."

Anakin didn't stay much longer. Squeezing out from behind the pillar, he glanced around before he started to leave, careful not to attract the attention of the astromech droid. He had at most a couple hours before they got to the Lake Country. A couple hours for him to scout out the one place he is certain she will stay- Varykino. Honestly, despite how smart she is, the place seemed a bit too obvious to him. Anyone with the right resources could find out about her family and know about the retreat- it has been in the Naberrie's name for generations and it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that she might go there to hide. He only had a couple hours to make sure the place was safe. And if he had to guess, it wasn't.