The recruiter, for some reason, did not believe he was serious. He simply stared at Luke, as if he had no patience for practical jokes.
"Local trouble?" he guessed.
Something like that.
"No," Luke said firmly. "Is it so hard to believe that I want to serve the Republic?"
"What's left of it," the recruiter mumbled.
This man was either going to be an early Alliance member or one of the Republic's last victims. Either way, Luke would have appreciated his opinion on any day other than today.
"I was on Muunilist when the Federation came along," Luke explained with a carefully researched cover story as his only means of persuasion, "and I saw what the Grand Army of the Republic did to keep the people of that planet free. I want to do that."
"Do you know how many people died on Muunilist in the Grand Army of the Republic?" the man retorted.
"I'm not afraid to die," Luke said without having to think about it; some things were far more terrifying than death. "Is that your only reason for not letting me join?"
The other man squinted at him for a long moment, obviously irked by the fact that Luke wouldn't give up on this idea as easily as the rest. Finally, he sighed and reached for his stylus.
"There is a unit currently based here on Coruscant," he stated. "You may have heard of their CO lately. Anakin Skywalker?"
Luke nodded. "I think I saw him on the newsfeeds," he suggested.
The recruiter barked out a laugh that wasn't quite amusement, but wasn't completely mirthless either. "Probably," he agreed. "After all, he's Palpatine's golden poster-boy and you'd think that he was winning this war single-handedly."
"Are we winning, then?" Luke asked, forcing himself to sound eager.
The other man smirked. "I thought you weren't afraid to die."
Within five minutes, Luke's enlistment papers were filled out and he had been directed to a stark examining room on the other side of the complex. There, a female Army medic seemed altogether too pleased to have to give a physical to someone who wasn't genetically engineered to be in good health. With his medical clearance assured, he retrieved the basics of his uniform from another department and then caught the first transport that he could find heading for his unit's headquarters.
"Identification?" the man at the door requested.
Luke passed over his identichip as well as the orders he had been given by the recruitment officer and the officer scanned it. Without thinking, Luke glanced at the other door warden and had to keep himself from taking a step backwards.
It shouldn't have been a surprise to find clones in the Army, since these were the end days of the Clone Wars, but Luke had not yet seen two guards with the same faces. If either of them noticed his discomfort, they didn't mention it and within a half-minute, the first guard had passed back his identichip.
"One of our officers will be here shortly to escort you," he assured him.
"Thank you," Luke managed to say.
They did not interact further-he had no doubt that they had personalities, but they seemed to be reserved for more permanent fixtures and people they knew would be part of the squadron. Within another moment, the inner door opened and the escort stepped through.
Luke was not sure he would be able to survive this day, much less the war, if he kept having shocks like this. The escort was a bearded man with narrow blue eyes and an almost regal bearing. Even without having seen that face before, the Jedi robes that he wore would have given him away immediately.
"Good morning, General," the second guard greeted.
"Good morning, Deadeye," Ben Kenobi responded before turning to Luke. "You're our latest victim?"
"I am," Luke croaked, managing a rather shaky salute.
"Ben? Ben Kenobi? Boy, am I glad to see you here!"
There was something of the man Luke had known in the lines of that face, the same kind of weariness that had made it all the more startling to see the amount of stamina that he possessed. Nevertheless, he at least seemed to be a man who could be courteous under any circumstances.
"Welcome," he said genially, returning the salute without seeming to notice Luke's nervousness. "I'm General Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Luke Lars," Luke responded around a very dry throat. "I was told by recruiting to report here."
Ben nodded, then stepped aside to let him pass into the complex. "Lars," he mused. "That's a Tatooin name, isn't it?"
Luke had to wonder how he knew that before spending the last half of his life under the twin suns. "It is," he agreed. "I'm from Anchorhead."
Ben's brow furrowed slightly, as if he recognized that for some reason, but he didn't comment on it. "Our Commander Skywalker was raised in Mos Espa before he came to the Jedi," he commented. "He will be glad to have someone to remember the heat with him."
There was a rush of adrenaline that he couldn't define as terror or pride. It wasn't exactly clear what he was supposed to feel in this situation and the Force seemed to have abandoned him completely at the moment.
"Really?" he asked, his voice taking over where his brain couldn't and making him sound relieved. "I haven't seen too many people from Tatooine around here."
"They don't tend to make their way Coreward," Ben agreed, "so I guess we'll just have to count ourselves lucky that we have two of you."
"Thank you, sir," Luke said.
Ben glanced at the door to their left, then pivoted and knocked on it. It hissed open without a response and they stepped in.
Anakin Skywalker was not Luke's mirror image, but there was no mistaking the things that he had given his son. They had the same eyes, had the same cleft in the chin and posture, but there was something about the intensity of his gaze that reminded Luke of Leia. It was something he associated with all people of great power, but he dismissed it immediately and tried to banish the mental image of Vader with equal speed.
"This is Luke Lars," Ben introduced. "He's been assigned to our squadron."
His father gave him a rather distracted smile as if it was a habit, but one that he couldn't really express because there were too many other things on his mind. "Welcome," he said, his voice genuine. "I'm Commander Anakin Skywalker and I see you've already met Obi-Wan. He's our Executive Officer and the comic relief."
This seemed to be a familiar joke between the two, since even Obi-Wan seemed amused by it. He permitted himself a smile, but did not argue with the comment.
"Yes," Luke responded, surprised at the steadiness of his voice. "He said you were from Tatooine?"
It was obviously a sore subject, since Anakin didn't bother to keep his feelings from showing on his face and he blasted him with a mixture of emotions through the Force. Luke wondered if his father was aware that he had communicated with the mind of his newest recruit, but if he was, he gave no sign of that.
"I came from there, yes," Father said flatly. "I grew up in Mos Espa."
"And I was raised in Anchorhead," Luke answered.
His expression darkened for just a moment, but he did not say anything that would explain that. Instead, he nodded slightly. "I had family in Anchorhead."
Owen and Beru.
Without further comment, he gestured to the seat. "Thank you, Obi-Wan," he said rather curtly. "I'll take it from here."
Obi-Wan didn't argue, but left them alone in the office. Almost immediately, the air seemed to close in, pressing in on him so that he could barely breathe. He was not sure what was more oppressive-the fact that he was facing the father he had never known or the knowledge that this man was about to become his worst enemy.
"It's good to have you here," Anakin said rather distractedly. "We lost some good men in the battle over Coruscant and replacements haven't been high on the list of priorities."
"I'm glad I could be assigned here," Luke agreed.
Father managed a faint smile that reminded him again of Leia as if he, too, was unaccustomed to being that expressive with his positive emotions. "You look forward to being stationed on Coruscant?"
"I have..." He smiled slightly, affectionately. "A little sister here. We haven't had much chance to see each other since she left home."
As Leia said, all things were true to a degree if you found the right wording for them.
"Well, we seem to be in the eye of the storm right now," Father said. "Our unit was in the Outer Rim sieges for the last five months. I think it took the personal intervention of the Chancellor to give us this assignment."
Luke hated that he had to be suspicious of everything the man he had yearned to know said. He hated the twist of his stomach every time Palpatine's name came up, but he hated the fear of how much of himself he saw in his Father.
"That's generous of him," he said at last, unable to get anything else past the tightness in his throat.
Anakin finally glanced up. "You have experience with the Sprites?"
Luke could only assume that he was referring to the popular Aethersprites that were considered relics in polite company and hunks of junk to the more educated pilots of Luke's day.
"Some," he admitted, "but I'm a quick study."
"If your scores from the pre-screening are any indication," Anakin commended, "you'll do fine here."
"I hope so, sir," Luke replied respectfully.
Without further comment on the subject, Anakin gave him a passkey. "This will let you into the barracks," he explained. "Take the first available bunk for now and tonight, we'll see about getting you a wingman, a fighter and a better idea of what you're up against."
"You clean up well," a low voice said at her ear.
Leia turned her head slightly so she could see Han across the curve of her shoulder and let him see a smile. "I could say the same," she said dryly, "but you look just as uncomfortable in a dress uniform as you do on less special occasions."
His hand caught her elbow and she turned to face him fully, allowing her smile to broaden. Before she could greet him properly, however, he caught her lips with his own for a brief, rather intense kiss.
She probably would have felt something, but her mind seemed to short-circuit at that very moment and by the time she had composed a coherent thought, he had pulled away. In that moment, she finally felt the heat of the kiss and found herself missing it when it was taken away.
"What..." she breathed.
"What?" he asked with a grin. "I can't miss my wife?"
It was all an act, then, all part of the cover story. It had been a nice act while it lasted, though.
An altogether too nice act.
"I didn't think you'd be here," she admitted, wrapping her fingers around his, since the order of the evening seemed to be looking the part; it was easier to think of it in those terms than try to accept the electricity that was passing between them. "Most of the security detail is at the perimeter."
"They are," he agreed, "but the Senator wanted to make sure that a few of us were on hand in case things got rough."
"It's the Liberation Day celebration," Leia countered. "What could get rough?"
He shrugged indifferently. "That's what you seem to say every time things blow up in our faces."
He had a point there.
"And you seem to think that I'll be the one making trouble?" she teased.
"No," he countered, "but you tend to be the center of attention when trouble happens. I'd rather we not let that happen this time."
Leia disengaged her hand, then glanced over her shoulder. "I suppose you've heard about Luke?"
"I heard that he hasn't been at his apartment today," Han admitted, "but not much more than that."
He seemed to have the kind of contacts that were as mercenary as he had been once upon a lifetime, so Leia nodded and stepped closer to disclose the information. "He's joined the noble ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic."
Han's expression darkened in recognition of Luke getting himself into another suicidal situation, but after a moment, comprehension seemed to dawn. He glanced around as if to make sure that they were not being overheard, then half-turned to draw her under his protective arm.
"Let me guess," he said quietly. "It's the easiest way to be in closer contact with our man Skywalker."
"Something like that," she agreed.
Again, he was looking thoroughly less than happy. "I don't like it," he confessed.
"You don't like anything that involves him and his instincts," Leia reminded, her smile turning slightly bittersweet.
"That's because his instincts have no sense of self-preservation!"
She had no way of arguing with that. Then again, if there was any tie that bound the three of them together, it was their unconventional and vaguely suicidal tendency towards heroics. She had never been sure if it had something to do with their upbringing, breeding or a simple lack of intelligence.
"It's a plan with merit," she rationalized. "There are few situations in which Luke could credibly follow a Jedi around. Being part of his squadron is one of those few."
"Good point," Han muttered, "but I still don't like it."
"You don't have to," Leia assured him.
He didn't look very reassured by that, but at least he dropped the subject and instead looked towards the balcony that had been conveniently vacated moments before. He then looked pointedly at the crowd around them.
"You look as if you could use some fresh air," he suggested.
"Thank you," she conceded. "Would you escort me?"
He simply offered his arm and she allowed him to guide her through the throngs of both vaguely and agonizingly familiar faces until they were able to breathe the warm night air. The seclusion of the balcony did not, however, keep them from hearing snatches of conversation as the other guests passed by the open doors.
..."Too dangerous as it is. First we gave those vigilantes an army and now the Chancellor is giving them his personal attention?"
"I think he's taking them under control and it makes me feel better. I don't know about you, but as long as someone's keeping an eye on things..."
"Even if it's the same eye that belongs to a dictator whose only priorities are seeing what part of the constitution he can obliterate next?"
Han pulled her away from the doorway into the eastern corner of the balcony. It was the section that lay flush to the Consulate so that the city lights did not highlight them in the slightest.
"We haven't had much chance to talk since this whole mess was confirmed," Han said in a low voice.
Leia nodded. "I haven't been sure where to start," she explained. "It's been hard enough to talk to Luke about this."
"But you know what we have to do," he retorted. "Luke's probably got the best shot..."
"I thought you didn't like it," she said flatly.
"I don't," he rejoined, "but if we're going to keep his father from turning into Vader, it's probably a better idea than playing diplomat here."
She bristled at the comment, since she was all too aware of her current impotence. "There are things we can accomplish here," she defended tersely.
"What?" he challenged. "We can't exactly send fanmail to Vader."
"No," she snapped, "but he's not the only one at risk."
He drew up to his full height, but she could still see his frown. "The Senator?"
"Of course," Leia answered. "We don't know what part she had in this, only that Vader..."
She broke off abruptly, eyes lowering, but Han wouldn't be fooled. From the sharp intake of air that came next, she could tell that she was already too late.
"Is that what the dream was about?"
She nodded without meeting his gaze. "I shouldn't be surprised," she murmured. "With all that Vader did..."
"I hope you don't intend to tell Luke," he shot back.
"Don't be ridiculous," Leia bit out. "This is something that will happen in a very short time and I have no intention of letting it remain unchanged."
She might have been mistaken, but she could have sworn that he smirked. "That's my girl," he commended.
Leia had seen many battlefields throughout the course of the war, but few had sickened her like this.
It was not the gory massacre that she had expected, but even before she saw the way most of the wounds had been cauterized, she was instinctively aware of why that was.
The Jedi had gone down fighting. That much was made evident by the fact that bodies of clonetroopers were in no short supply.
It was difficult to discern, looking at lives that had been extinguished by the same killing force of fire, who had been the victor here.
Perhaps none of them had been.
It was immensely difficult to say that there was a purpose for the bodies of the children.
It was a thousand footfalls between the doorway and where the two men had stopped and there seemed to be a body for each step. She did not look down to identify the faces-it would have been beyond her power, anyway-but approached the Masters with leaden steps and an equally heavy heart.
"Not even the younglings survived," Obi-Wan said as if this scene needed an explanation.
Master Yoda heaved a sigh; in air that was so weighted with murder, it was almost impossible to draw breath, so the heaviness of his exhalation seemed appropriate.
"Killed not by clones, this Padawan." His voice was appropriately hushed as if not wanting to disturb the rest of those who had earned their peace in an unjust war. "By a lightsaber, he was."
She could see the familiar furrow in Obi-Wan's brow, but his face remained otherwise impassive. "Who? Who could have done this?"
This time, there were no screams when she awoke, only a sick burning in the back of her throat, almost as if she had meant to vomit and had restrained herself. It was not surprising, since she had felt the emotional equivalent during the dream, but hers threatened to beat its way out of her ribcage nonetheless.
Something about her breathing must have been different, though, because there was a grunt and a rustle of blankets as Han propped himself on one elbow.
"Another vision," he guessed.
"They're not visions," Leia said sharply.
It was an instinctive response, rather than something that she could back up and therefore Han was not fooled. Before she could give a further explanation, he stood and crossed to the bed, settling in next to her. She didn't bother to pull away, not even when he echoed his earlier gesture by taking her hand. It was a mute gesture of undemanding support and she could not protest that.
"What was it?" he asked quietly. "The same?"
"No," she said honestly. "It was the first time..."
Her throat closed and she shook her head, though she doubted that he would be able to see it in the darkness.
"Take your time," he urged, reaching across her to turn on the light. "Would something to drink help?"
She nodded and he released her hand, sliding off the bed to comply. When he returned a moment later with a cold glass of water, her throat muscles had finally released their tension. It was a long moment, however, before she could find the words for it.
"The Jedi Purges," she explained at last. "The children as well as the Masters."
His mouth twitched. "How much of it did you see?"
"Mostly the aftermath," she whispered.
From years of shared experience, he understood that there were times when nothing was more horrific than seeing a battle when there was nothing she could do about it.
He let out a long breath at last, his face utterly unreadable. "I think you should tell Luke."
"No."
"The Force is trying to tell you something," he reasoned.
"You don't believe in the Force," Leia reminded.
"I don't believe in time travel," he retorted. "Doesn't mean it doesn't believe in me."
She shook her head. "This is something he can't know," she insisted.
"Until when?" Han snapped. "When it happens to him, too?"
"He has his own burden," Leia asserted. "If we succeed, none of that has to happen, but it is not fair to him to remind him of what will happen if we don't."
Han seemed to be on the verge of disagreeing, but kept his mouth shut for once. "I wish someone would tell your dreams that."
Sleep had eluded her since that moment and it was a long night before duty called her away from the apartment. She had hoped that the day's tasks would keep her mind off of the dream, but instead, when she arrived at Bail's office, she found that it would be impossible.
Tarrick ushered her in immediately as if her presence was urgently needed. Padme had already seated herself, looking stiff and uncomfortable in a way that probably had nothing to do with her advanced pregnancy. She did not look up as Leia entered, but Bail took notice of her immediately.
"Leia," Bail greeted with his usual smile, "I'm glad you arrived early."
"You have an assignment for me?" Leia asked.
"I have my own errands for the morning," Bail stated, "but I need you to represent me."
"Yes, sir," Leia responded. "What is the errand?"
Padme looked up at last and her eyes seemed to be slightly wary, not of Leia, but of what they had to do. "We have an appointment with Master Kenobi of the Jedi Council," she said flatly. "Are you familiar with him?"
"I have met him," Leia said warily. "When I was doing some research at the Archives, he was kind enough to be of assistance."
Her expression seemed to soften and she nodded. "That does sound like Obi-Wan," she conceded fondly. "We have decided to consult him on our petition to the Chancellor. Bail had hoped to come, but he has suggested that you would be a trustworthy emissary as well."
"I will do my best," Leia promised. "We leave immediately?"
"Yes," Padme confirmed.
Bail stood with them. "I would like you to report back immediately following the meeting, Leia," he requested. "If I have not returned, return to your quarters and I will come to discuss the outcome afterwards."
"Yes, sir," Leia said dutifully.
It was not until they had reached the Naboo delegation's speeder and they were safely on their way that Leia dared to ask the obvious question. "What changed the committee's mind on the matter of involving the Jedi?"
Padme's smile was absolutely mirthless. "Finding a Jedi we could trust."
She didn't bother to ask why Anakin had not fit the description. For all her experience as a politician, there was no way of creating that kind of deception.
"We do not want to openly ask for their support," Padme explained, "but we know that the relations between the Council and the Chancellor have been strained since Geonosis and we hope that the tension will work to our advantage."
"And Obi-Wan is a friend," Leia observed, "so he will know what to do with the trust you give him."
Luke's mother looked away abruptly, though her skin remained pale and her voice was steady. "That is our hope."
This time, they were not taken to the Archives, but led by one of the apprentices to a conference room in the recesses of the Temple. Obi-Wan greeted Padme with an unnecessarily formal bow that Leia could sense was for appearances only, then repeated the gesture with her.
"A pleasure to see you again, milady," he said without a trace of guile.
"And you, Master Kenobi," Leia responded in kind. "I hadn't expected to see you again so soon."
He gestured them to chairs at the round table and took the seat nearest Padme. "I understand that you have some political matters to discuss with me," he began dryly.
Padme's mouth curved into a smile. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I know that you hate this sort of thing, but we felt that you would be the best Jedi to consult on this."
"Does it have anything to do with the Chancellor?" he asked immediately.
"Does anything not?" Leia interjected. "I think there are few who still believe that he is doing some good for the Republic."
At least she assumed that was one rationale for the contention in the Republic. Then again, there might have been a few obstinate fools still around.
"We are wary of him," Obi-Wan granted, glancing at her with an expression that suggested both amusement and admiration. "He has taken the power that the Republic granted him in good faith and used it to an extreme extent."
"That is what concerns the loyalists most," Padme expressed. "There is no indication that his bids for power will ever stop."
"He makes them under the guise of doing what is best for the Republic," Leia said, "but all he is doing is making himself the only one able to decide what that constitutes."
Master Kenobi nodded grimly. "I do not believe that he will be willing to relinquish that power once the crisis has passed."
"What he led the Senate to believe is that this will be the only crisis," Padme stated. "I'm not sure they'll ever learn to believe otherwise."
Obi-Wan grimaced. "It reminds me of my training," he observed. "When I was young, I balked at the idea that my Master would constantly discipline me. I felt it was unduly harsh and asked when he would stop thinking of me as a learner. He told me that even he would never consider his own education complete so I should never assume that instruction was a punishment."
Leia had heard a similar story from Bail in her early years. Perhaps every truly great man had such an epiphany.
"The Republic thought that it learned its lesson with Valorum," Padme retorted. "They have permitted this complacency because it is the easy thing to do."
"They'll learn now or learn through bitter experience the price of what they have allowed," Leia predicted.
"That is why we are taking action now," Padme said at last. "There is a petition of two thousand Senators asking for the amendments to the constitution to be repealed."
"A well-conceived plan," Obi-Wan murmured, "if the Chancellor is willing to listen to the voice of reason."
"We hope that having a majority in the matter will force his hand where diplomacy cannot," Padme agreed. "As a Jedi, what is your opinion on that matter?"
"It is prudent," he said cautiously, "but it may take more than politics alone to stop Palpatine."
Leia caught a flash of insight from his tone. "You have your own contingency plan, then?" she asked.
He turned a gaze on her that was infinitely weary. "That is one way of putting it," he conceded. "I should not say too much of it, but it is something that is a more permanent solution to Palpatine's abuses."
"That is good to hear," Padme breathed. "We were not sure if the Jedi would see our perspective on this matter."
He nodded with a slight smile. "Despite the necessity of our role in this war, we are keepers of the peace, milady," he reminded. "As long as you agree with us on that level, we will have the same goals."
Before either of them could respond, his commlink sounded and he retrieved it. "Kenobi," he answered.
"We are convening a session of the Council in ten minutes' time," a brusque, male voice said.
"On my way," Obi-Wan said without questioning the need for the session. His smile turned remorseful. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but we will have to continue this discussion in further detail and with the input of the Council."
"Thank you," Padme responded, getting to her feet with as much grace as she could manage.
As Leia turned to follow her out, however, he caught her elbow. "Lady Antilles," he said, "might I have a word with you in private?"
Padme glanced at Leia. "I will be waiting at the speeder," she assured her.
"Certainly," Leia replied.
The door shut behind Padme and Obi-Wan released her elbow, but did not take his seat once more. "Is there something wrong?" Leia asked bluntly.
"I was going to ask the same thing of you," Obi-Wan admitted. "You seem to be troubled this morning."
If he had even the slightest suspicion of why that was, he gave no indication. The concern in his eyes was genuine.
"It's nothing," Leia lied. "I am troubled by the current situation."
"As we all are," Obi-Wan soothed. "If there's anything I might do to..."
He broke off with a stifled gasp that Leia matched in tone and emotion. She immediately knew why, but she had made the move involuntarily. It had simply come when she felt his mind touch hers in the same way that Vader had begun his interrogation. Without thinking or knowing how, she had pushed her mind against the influence until he was unable to touch her thoughts again.
It was a survival instinct, since he could not know of her mission here or her true identity, but she had not expected to have to use it against someone that she had been taught to trust both by her father and by her instincts.
His hand landed on her arm as if he could connect their minds by starting on a physical level. "You have no reason to fear or hide from me," he promised.
She had every reason to fear what she could tell him, though it would have been infinitely simpler to pour out the story and let him take over the crisis from here. She shook her head, but did not respond for a long moment.
It seemed impossible to think that she could hide anything from a Jedi, much less something that directly involved him, but it made as much sense as the reason that she had been able to fend off Obi-Wan's only student.
At last, she nodded as if in understanding. "I am hiding nothing."
He could have stretched out to touch her mind once more, then, but he chose to avoid another encounter. "What troubles you?" he asked again.
"Everything and nothing at all," she said honestly before fleeing.
Many things had been changed in the war. No one who had been sent off to lead or support the Grand Army of the Republic returned to Coruscant with the same attitude towards the men and women who ruled there.
Tragically enough, there were even those who had refused to return to the Temple because they felt that the Jedi were just as treacherous as the Chancellor who had sent their friends to their deaths. It was hardly surprising, since the Jedi had entered the entire affair with something between resignation and resentment.
For Obi-Wan, the Temple had never stopped being a haven. Perhaps it was a result of knowing how desperately the Council had fought against the war. He had listened to the sessions in which even Master Yoda had searched for loopholes to preserve the lives of those they served.
Perhaps it was a product of some idealistic idea that there was still peace to be found there.
He had asked for an audience with Master Windu the moment that Lady Antilles had left the office. It was no matter of urgency, but it was on an order instated just after Geonosis.
Mace's quarters were simply decorated, with just one chair for visitors wedged against the desk, and a bed against the opposite wall. The Korun Master was a reclusive man who preferred to keep the spiritual atmosphere of his room uncluttered.
"Obi-Wan," he greeted. "You have some information?"
"More of a concern," Obi-Wan corrected grimly.
Mace nodded grimly. "It's all any of us have," he reminded. "Who is the cause for concern?"
"Lady Antilles," he supplied. "She is an aide to Senator Organa."
Mace's eyes narrowed and Obi-Wan knew that he was thinking of the trail of information that had led several Jedi to the possibility of a Sith in Republica 500. Someone placed that highly in the political structure would certainly be able to afford such accommodations.
"And what leads you to believe that she may be connected?" Mace asked carefully.
"She was troubled in our meeting this morning," Obi-Wan explained, "and because we had met before here..."
"At the Temple?" Mace interrupted sharply.
Obi-Wan nodded. "She was authorized to do research in our archives," he stated.
"What were your impressions of her then?"
He grimaced. "I didn't give her much thought," he admitted, "but when I attempted to touch her mind today, she cloaked her mind."
"And you were not aware of any Force potential," Mace observed.
"I was not," Obi-Wan confirmed.
Mace let out a long breath. "It is not necessarily a skill of the Force," he mused, "but it bears investigation."
"What do you suggest?"
"First, there are blood samples taken from each person registered for access to the Senate," Mace said. "Test hers for a midichlorian count."
"And if she is Force-sensitive?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Find out," Mace suggested, "why exactly she's so eager to keep her mind closed to you."
"I'm not sure she would answer that question," Obi-Wan protested.
There was something strange in Master Windu's expression that was distinctly frightening. "I said nothing of asking," he countered easily.