Disclaimer: George Lucas owns it…I just imagine…
A/N: Some time line stuff. Let's say that Anakin and Luke spent the night in the medical center. I'm sure that their injuries were not that extensive, but the droids gave them some sedatives because they needed to be thoroughly checked out before they insisted on leaving (which they would have done had they been conscious).
A/N#2: I trust the SW books and the movies. The book I read had Annie as Anakin's nickname. The movie had Ani as his nickname. I have made a final decision: Ani will be his nickname. I like it better and agree with one of my reviewers that Annie sounds like a girl's name.
A/N #3: SORRY! One more author's note. I changed the midi-chlorian counts from ch.7. they were bothering some people, and then the midichlorain counts started bothering me. So I changed them…
Chapter 9- Together Again
Leia stood nervously with three of Padme's entourage, Leia at Padme's right hand and Captain Typho at her left. Dorme was off to the side, looking in the distance. They were awaiting the arrival of Anakin and Obi-Wan, Padme's soon to be protectors.
Leia did not know quite what to make of Anakin coming. She wanted to be revolted, but that stupid holovid that Luke made her watch kept replaying in her head. It really confused her, and she was getting a headache.
Leia heard Jar-Jar yell in the distance: "OBI!" Then his voice fell as he spoke to the people who arrived.
Soon Jar-Jar led in the protection party. There were three Jedi who entered, rather than the two expected. The extra Jedi is the one that surprised Leia the most.
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Anakin and Luke were both sitting on the edge of their beds, anxious to leave. Luke was getting a bandage over his left eye, where one cut refused to heal. Anakin was getting one on his wrist, which got twisted in the quick exit of the speeder.
"Maybe this will teach you both a lesson," Obi-Wan commented, standing between the two.
"Yes, Master," Anakin said, smirking.
Luke winced as the droid finished his bandaging.
Then a Jedi entered the room. He had dark skin and tan Jedi robes. He was bald and carried an aura of importance. "Master Kenobi, we need you," the Jedi said.
Anakin hopped off of his bed almost knocking a droid over on his way. "Master Windu," Anakin said, bowing, "What do you need us for?"
Jedi Windu glanced over Luke. "So, this is the Jedi Yoda told me about?"
Luke had no idea how much Yoda told him, so he feigned ignorance. "Yes, sir. I am Luke Walker," he said, standing from his bed. He bowed.
The Jedi Master did not seem to know everything. Windu nodded in return. "I am Mace Windu, member of the Jedi Council. You will be joining Kenobi and Skywalker for the duration of your time in Coruscant, I am told. So this concerns you as well."
Mace Windu turned to Obi-Wan.
"Perhaps you have heard that your old friend, Senator Amidala, has just arrived in Coruscant for the Military Creation Act?" He asked, looking to each of them.
Anakin smiled and nodded. Obi-Wan gave a respectful nod.
"Well," Windu said, "An attempt was made on her life upon her arrival earlier today—"
"What?! Is she alright?" Anakin asked, stepping forward.
"Yes," Master Windu said, looking annoyed at the interruption. "She is fine. Her handmaid, however, was killed in the explosion. I am told that another guard was hired soon after, for her quick response on the landing platform.
"You three are to be her additional guard. The people in charge of the attack will know that she survived by now. There will be another attempt in all likelihood."
"Yes, sir. Of course, Master Windu," Anakin said, with a big grin, bowing.
"We will follow the Council's wishes, Master," Obi-Wan said.
Mace Windu nodded at them. He turned to Luke. "I would like to talk to you, Jedi Walker. Not immediately. Perhaps tomorrow, after you have established your protection of the Senator?"
"Yes, Master," Luke said, a question in his voice.
Windu gave a slight smile and left the room.
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They were riding up a turbo-lift. Anakin was shifting nervously with his Jedi robes. Luke's robes were slightly too long, as he had borrowed some from Anakin, who was at least four inches taller.
"You seem a little on edge," Obi-Wan commented to Anakin.
"Not at all," Anakin said, lamely.
Luke snorted softly. They could all feel the nervousness radiating off of Anakin.
"I haven't felt you this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks," Obi-Wan said, glancing at him.
Anakin laughed a little. "You fell into that nightmare, Master. And I rescued you, remember?"
"Oh," Obi-Wan said seriously, "Yes."
After a second of silence, they all three laughed. Luke got the impression that Obi-Wan only made that comment to ease Anakin a little. Luke realized how much Obi-Wan cared about Anakin. Obi-Wan really did.
"You're sweating!" Obi-Wan said, playfully, "Relax! Take a deep breath."
"I haven't seen her in ten years, Master," Anakin said, revealing the source of his nervousness.
Luke was forced to wonder again, if this woman was his mother. Anakin was way too nervous.
Obi-Wan shook his head and looked forward. If this woman was his mother, how did Obi-Wan not see it coming? Anakin revealed how much he obsessed over her just through his simple actions.
Their lift was slowing down. Luke was very curious to see this woman.
The door opened to reveal a reddish creature. He looked ridiculous, to be honest. "Obi? OBI!" The creature yelled in a high-pitched voice.
"Mesa so smilin' to seein' yousa," the creature said.
"Good to see you again, Jar-Jar," Obi-Wan said with a smile.
Jar-Jar took no notice of Anakin or Luke, turning in the other direction of them.
"Senator Padme! Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator!" Jar-Jar said, leading them into the next room. "Desa Jedi arrivin'."
The first thing Luke noticed was the woman from the holo. She was more beautiful than in the holo. And looked even more like Leia.
"It's a great pleasure to see you again, milady," Obi-Wan said to her.
"It has been far too long Master Kenobi," Padme agreed.
Then Luke heard his name. "Luke?"
He took his eyes from Padme, to see the woman behind her.
Luke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Leia?!"
His sister ran to him and hugged him. He hugged her back, surprised she was here. "Are you alright?" he asked, worried by her reaction.
She leaned away to look at him. "Yes." She looked pointedly at his bandage on his head. "Are you?"
"I'm fine," Luke said, waving his hand. "Small speeder crash."
Luke's mind picked up her thoughts: Do you have any idea what's going on?
Luke shook his head. "I have no idea," he said.
The Senator, both Jedi, Jar-Jar, and the Senator's guards were looking at the two in confusion.
"Um, Anakin, Obi-Wan, this is my twin sister," Luke introduced.
Obi-Wan nodded, a little confused. "Jedi twins?" He asked, curiously.
"Leia's not a Jedi," Luke said.
"You're a Jedi's twin but not a Jedi yourself?" Anakin asked Leia.
"She sensed our ship was going to blow up before it did. I've only seen Jedi do that," Padme said, recalling the situation on the platform with a grim face.
"That shows quite a level of skill, Master. Especially for a non-Jedi," Anakin commented, impressed with Leia.
"We'll ask questions later, Anakin. Now's the time to set up Padme's security," Obi-Wan said, looking just as curious as his Padawan.
Anakin didn't need too much prodding to shift his focus back to Padme. Leia stayed where she was, halfway between Luke and Padme.
"If your name is Luke," Padme said, looking at him, "Then…" she looked at Anakin up and down. "Ani? My goodness, you've grown."
Luke could sense the nerves in Anakin as he stepped forward. "So have you," he said, then realized what exactly he said, "Grown more beautiful, I mean. And much shorter—"
Luke and Leia exchanged a look.
Anakin recovered quickly. "—for a Senator, I mean."
Leia gave Luke a pained look. Luke returned it. Oh, Anakin was enamored with her. After a quick shade of discomfort, Padme laughed.
"Ani, you'll always be that little boy I knew on Tatooine," she commented, and then turned from him.
Luke felt the disappointment from Anakin. Poor Anakin. Leia looked at Luke with a question. He couldn't quite divine what she wanted to know; there was simply too much to be curious about.
They went back to business again. "Our presence here will be invisible, milady, I can assure you," Obi-Wan told Padme.
"I'm Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service. I am grateful you're here. The situation is far more serious than the Senator will admit," Typho said.
They were all sitting on couches now: the three Jedi on one and Padme, Dorme, and Leia on the other. Jar-Jar and Typho stood near by.
"I don't need more protection," Padme said, with a very Leia-like passion, "I need answers. I want to know who's trying to kill me."
"We are here to protect you Senator," Obi-Wan said. "Not to start an investigation."
Luke could see the vindication in Padme's eyes. She didn't want to stand idly by and wait for another attack. She wanted to take the offensive, which Luke agreed with wholly. He was about to say so, when Anakin beat him to the punch.
"We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padme," he said, with a gentle voice, "I promise you."
"We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner," Obi-Wan said.
Ouch, Luke thought. He could tell Anakin did not take being reprimanded in front of Padme well.
"I meant it in the interest of protecting her Master, of course," Anakin argued.
"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin," Obi-Wan said, sternly. "And you will pay attention to my lead."
Everyone watched the Master and Padawan, not really knowing whether to feel bad for Anakin or to ignore his discomfort.
Luke and Leia looked at each other thinking the same thing. This boy would be Darth Vader some day, this young boy who was getting reprimanded by his master. Luke almost heard Darth Vader in Anakin's voice when he said,
"Why?"
Obi-Wan looked at his Padawan unbelievingly. "What?"
Anakin recovered. "Why else do you think we were assigned to her if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for a local security not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."
"We will do exactly as the council has instructed," Obi-Wan said, his patience frayed, "And you will learn your place, young one."
Luke wouldn't have the courage to speak back to Obi-Wan anymore. Anakin didn't seem to have any either. He looked down, dejected. Luke decided to try something. He thought of Anakin in his mind. Don't worry, we'll find the killer. I'll help you. Luke thought.
The only recognition Luke got to reveal that Anakin received the message was a small fleeting smile across his face.
"Perhaps with merely your presence, the mystery surrounding this threat will be revealed," Padme said. She stood and everyone followed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I will retire."
Padme turned to leave. Anakin and Luke watched her, Dorme, and Leia leave. Luke's sister gave him a look that said they would talk later.
The two Skywalkers walked to catch up with Obi-Wan and Captain Typho who were discussing security matters.
"She hardly even recognized me, Luke," Anakin said.
Luke saw how distraught he was. "It has been ten years," he said.
"Yes, but I've thought about her every day since we've been apart," Anakin said, passionately.
Obi-Wan walked up. "You're focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts." He lowered his voice. "She was pleased to see us."
Obi-Wan looked at Luke. "We need to check security. Perhaps while we do, you can explain your sister?"
They began walking in the general direction that Padme and the other women had walked.
"Well, we're twins," Luke repeated.
"Is she strong in the Force like you?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I don't know if I would call myself strong..." Luke said humbly.
"Your midi-chlorian count is 22,000. I'd say that's strong," Obi-Wan said, with a touch of sarcasm.
"Midi-chlorian?" Luke questioned the odd term.
Obi-Wan stopped and gave Luke a questioning gaze. "You don't know what a midi-chlorian is?" He asked.
Luke hoped he didn't completely blow his cover. "No," he admitted.
"He is from Tatooine," Anakin said, looking out over a balcony.
"He would have had his count taken regardless." Obi-Wan sighed. "No matter… midi-chlorians are tiny microscopic organisms that reside in your blood. They connect you, and everything around you, to the Force. The more you have, the better your control of the Force."
Luke nodded, absorbing this new information. "And Anakin…what's his count?"
"I can't be defined. I'm off the charts," Anakin said, strolling into the room with a grin.
Obi-Wan gave Anakin a look. "It's rather surprising that you haven't heard of Anakin, not to inflate his ego anymore than it already is," the master berated.
"What makes him so special?" Luke asked, glancing at Anakin's seemingly innocent face.
Obi-Wan sighed. "Have you heard of the prophecy of the Chosen One?"
