Into the Fire

Amira bit her lip as she stood, hidden in a borrowed cloak, in the middle of a crowd of tourists near the entrance to the Monument Plaza at the base of Umate, of Coruscant's Manarai Mountains, waiting for Senator Amidala to arrive. They had managed to get a message to the Senator requesting she come there alone, that it was imperative she do so with the upmost care and caution and subtlety. She just hoped the Senator would agree to come. All the woman would know was it was from a Jedi so she hoped it would be enough. She was the one there instead of Anakin even though she'd said that he should be the one to speak to the Senator as he knew her better than she did. But he was waiting in the shuttle they would be taking to Mustafar, and it needed to be him in there, piloting it, making it so they could leave as quickly as possible. He also remarked that she was the more diplomatic of the two, she would be able to get what she had to say out and do so quickly and simply.

She didn't know if the Senator was even there, she was trying to sense for the woman, but there were so many people about, which was why they'd suggested that place. It was public, yes, but crowded with thousands of tourists every day, making it easy for the two to get lost and be unnoticed in such a place. Many people came for the chance to touch the bare rock of the highest mountain in Coruscant and enjoy the museums and restaurants scattered around the plaza as well. It would be the perfect place to meet and not be seen.

She stilled, catching sight of woman walking in neutral colors that blended in with the crowd as she entered the area where a line had formed to approach the mountain's touch-area. She could recognize the Senator even in her plain dress, but so many others were more excited about the mountain than to notice the woman. She took a breath and quickly stepped out, moving towards the Senator but being careful to play the role of a tourist, "There you are!" she cheered as she reached Padmé, "You're just in time, the line is starting to form," she led her over to the other tourists, getting them in line to see the rock. The line often moved quickly, most people wanting just a brief touch before moving on to the rest that the mountain had to offer which would be just enough time to express what she needed to tell the woman.

"I'm glad I got your message in time," Padmé played along, as though they were just two friends meeting up to see the mountain together, "I hoped I hadn't missed you."

Amira nodded, "Thank you for coming," she spoke quieter, the closer they got to the touch-area, the louder the voices around them grew, meaning they could speak more freely if they lowered their voices.

"Your message sounded important," Padmé murmured, "Has something happened? Is…is Anakin alright?"

Amira blinked at that and glanced at Padmé, tilting her head as she observed the woman closely a moment, "He is well," she answered, "He is waiting for me in the shuttle, we are to depart for Mustafar after I speak with you."

"Mustafara?" Padmé's eyes widened at that, "What could be…"

"The Separatists," Amir answered quickly glancing around, "We've obtained information on where they've gathered. The Council has dispatched Anakin and I to settle the matter, arrest them and bring the leaders to trial."

Padmé let out a breath at that, "Then the war is nearly over."

"And a much bigger one may be about to begin," Amir warned, "The source of our information was from the one the Separatists have been following all this time. A Sith Lord."

Padmé frowned at that, "The Sith…"

"The Chancellor."

Padmé stared at her, "You must be mistaken," she shook her head, "The Chancellor has been…" she trailed off, not sure what word she could possibly use to describe it, "But he is no Sith Lord!" she hissed the last two words.

Amira gave her a firm look, "He is, we have a transmission of him admitting so, of admitting his hand in this entire war. Along with his plans to dismantle the Senate and put an Empire in place with him as the ruler."

"He wouldn't…" Padmé breathed, shaking her head more and more as though she could cast the truth of it aside if she tried hard enough.

"He has," Amira leaned in more, "Not only that, he ordered his new Apprentice to attack the Jedi Temple, to slaughter us. And has issued an order to the Clone Soldiers that they are to attack their unsuspecting Jedi commanders. He means to destroy those that could stop him and protect the Senate."

"His new apprentice?" Padmé swallowed hard, if the Chancellor had taken an apprentice, then how would they even be able to stop him? His apprentice would just take over once his master fell…

"Anakin."

Padmé nearly stumbled at that had Amira not reached out and steadied her, glancing around to make sure no one else had noticed, "Ani?"

"Anakin," Amira corrected, knowing that Anakin preferred being called a name that didn't make him feel like a little girl, only his mother was allowed to call him that it seemed, "He went undercover, Senator, gained the Chancellor's trust and got him to reveal his plans to him, recorded the transmission of his admissions of all he's done and plans to do."

Padmé let out a breath, her heart racing but starting to slow at the knowledge that Anakin had done what he had to get them proof, "And you have this evidence?"

Amira nodded, "That is why I called you here."

"It was you that called?"

Amira looked at the woman a moment as the line continued to move, "You believed it was Anakin that contacted you?"

"No," Padmé said quickly, "No but…I…" she sighed, "I had hoped it might be," she glanced at her, "You are Amira-Tal," she murmured. They'd met here and there, but never officially, never so long that she would be able to recognize her instantly, "Anakin…speaks highly of you."

"Anakin trusts you," Amira countered, "As do I, as do the Council, that you will be able to take the proof we provide you and stop the Chancellor's plot in the Senate. Make a motion or whatever you must to reveal his treachery."

"I won't be able to do it alone," Padmé warned.

"Master Yoda, Windu, and Kenobi plan to join you at the Senate, should the Chancellor attack," Amira nodded, "You may tell all the Senators that you would trust with this knowledge to help put a united front. We MUST stop the Chancellor from taking complete control of the Galaxy."

Padmé nodded at that, "I will do all I can," she swore.

They grew quiet as they reached the touch-area, a small hole carved into the wall, big enough for two or three hands to fit through, to touch the mountain. Amira subtly reached into her pocket and gave Padmé a meaningful look as they both reached through the hole, but instead of touching the mountain, she pressed the disc that contained a copy of the Chancellor's transmission into her hand, pulling her hand out a moment later as did Padmé.

They were silent as they moved with the crowd towards the open areas that held the access to the other shops and museums and food areas.

Amira looked at Padmé, seeing the determined Senator she'd heard the woman to be, "May the Force be with you Senator," she offered, bowing her head before she turned to go.

"Wait," Padmé reached out and touched her arm, stilling her, "Take care of him," she began after a moment of silence, "Anakin can be…" she gave a helpless shrug, failing to find a word that defined all that Anakin was.

Amira smiled and nodded, "I know," she understood, "I will never let anything happen to him, Padmé."

Padmé nodded and slowly pulled her hand away, "I…" she hesitated, but took a breath, "I thought that Anakin and I…" she paused again, not sure if she should say it to the woman that Anakin now loved, especially as she recognized the smile Amira had given her at the mention of Anakin, the smile that spoke of a love returned, "But we're not," she settled on instead, "It's you. It will be you, for the rest of his life."

"Mine as well," Amira murmured.

Padmé took a breath, "I…spoke to your Master," she informed Amira, "When she was assigned to protect me. I asked her once, why Obi-Wan sent Anakin back, she was very blunt. He was too attached to me and Obi-Wan couldn't allow it. I asked why attachment was bad, and she explained the dangers that a Jedi could face when they…they fell in love."

"It can be very dangerous," Amira agreed, "It depends on the Jedi though."

"I know," Padmé agreed, a sad smile on her face, "It depends on BOTH of them," she gave Amira a meaningful look, "Anakin has loved you since Geonosis," she stated flat out, "And I think you have as well."

"You…would not be mistaken," Amira answered hesitantly, "We have…" this time SHE paused, not sure if she should tell the woman that might still care for Anakin that way what had been given to the two of them, "We have recently obtained the Council's permission to be together."

Padmé swallowed hard at that, letting out a breath as though she'd been struck in the stomach, but holding it together, "Three years," she murmured, "It has been three years, and only now…"

"I resisted," Amira explained, not sure why she was even doing so, but…she could understand Padmé, she could understand that this conversation needed to happen, for the closure the woman would need to understand the difference in Anakin's feelings over time, "I did not want him to face that danger."

Padmé nodded ruefully at that, "I don't think I would have been that strong," she admitted, "I would have led to his ruin."

"We will never know," Amira offered in an attempt to comfort her. Because, even though this woman before her had been the object of Anakin's affections at one point, she was still a woman that cared for Anakin and a woman that was respecting Anakin's choice now.

"Maybe not," Padmé murmured, "But I believe it. Your Master explained that danger and even then I couldn't understand it. I couldn't understand how love could be dangerous. Only a Jedi would be able to understand, I think, and…only a Jedi would be strong enough to help Anakin face that danger and surpass it," she took a breath, "So…thank you," she finished, "I would not see Anakin…become what he could have if the love had been a different sort. I feel as though I owe you a debt."

Amira shook her head, "See to it that the Chancellor is defeated in the Senate, and we shall call it even."

Padmé nodded in promise as Amira turned and made her way through the crowd, both women feeling lighter of heart than they had before.

~8~

Amira looked over at Anakin as he piloted the shuttle though the dark of space, just…observing him a moment before she spoke, "Are you going to tell me what YOUR nightmare was about?" she asked softly.

"It doesn't matter," he stated, focusing on the controls.

"It could be a vision."

"I'm going to prevent it."

"I could help."

"No, I won't let it happen, so it's moot to talk about."

Amira frowned at that, at how he had gone right to how HE wouldn't let it happen, as though…as though the vision had something to do with her and he didn't want her anywhere near it when it happened. She had been fearful, when she'd dreamed of Order 66, had rushed to tell Master Windu, and then Anakin had distracted her in the halls, and the Council had been called before Palpatine had been contacted and…it was just a mess of events. But it didn't take away from the fact or cause her to forget that Anakin had woken up with a start the same time she had, that he had admitted he'd had a nightmare as well. She'd wanted to ask him about it, to get him to talk of what he'd seen, but the time hadn't been right and he hadn't said anything to the Masters that made it seem like the dream was imperative to stopping the Chancellor. But now, now it was just the two of them and they had a moment to breathe and she could tell, from how tense he was and how focused he was forcing himself to be, that it was affecting him even now.

"I told you about my vision," she reminded him about her dream of him and the Younglings, "And that didn't happen."

"You didn't know it then, you didn't even know it was ME at the time."

"Does it make a difference? I would have wanted to prevent the Younglings being harmed no matter who the shadow was. I would have wanted to prevent it."

"And you did, and so will I."

"Anakin," she reached out and placed her hand on one of his on the controls, shifting her hand to link her fingers with his, "Tell me. Please?" she let her thumb stroke on the back of his hand, watching as he looked down at it, "If we are to be partners, in all missions, that should include personal missions as well."

He sighed, tugging her hand to his lips to kiss it, "I…dreamed of you."

"I gathered that much," she encouraged, squeezing his hand.

He let out a breath, "You were…there was fire or…or magma. You were falling towards it."

"Ok," she nodded slowly, "I'll be sure not to go near any magma then."

Anakin let out a dark chuckle, "The entire planet we're going to is practically magma."

She smiled, "I know," she nudged him, before falling silent as she saw his expression growing grim, growing guilty, "That isn't all there is, is there?"

He swallowed, "I was holding your hand," he added, quiet, "I was holding your hand, trying to help you but then…you were falling. I…I let go…"

"Anakin," she bit her lip, hesitating a moment before reminding herself that no one was there to observe or judge them and stood, moving over to him and settling on his lap, his arms immediately winding around her in the small cramped space between him and the controls, "You would never let me go," she reached up to touch his cheek, "I'm fairly certain that, if me metaphorically prying at your hands for the last three years wasn't enough to get you to let go of me, I don't think anything will," she tilted her head, "Whatever your vision is of, nothing will happen to me."

"You can't know that," he murmured, looking at her with such concern in his eyes, for her, that she lost her breath.

"I can," she countered, "That's the whole reason the Council assigned us as partners. We will look out for each other, better than any other Jedi could. I know you will have my back and I know you would never let me fall," she nudged him, "Or are you taking your promise of being there when I Force Jump back?"

He managed a small laugh at that, "No," he shook his head, "No, you're right," he took a breath, "I wouldn't let you fall. And if I did…I'd probably jump after you."

"I'd rather we both not fall or jump for the foreseeable future," she countered, pulling her hand from his face to hold out before him, "Do we have a deal?"

He grinned, nodding as he took her hand, and then quickly put his arms out on either side of her, trapping her when she tried to get up.

He was an incredible pilot, and that was not arrogance speaking, he could certainly pilot a shuttle with her on his lap, he was sure of it.

~8~

Anakin and Amira glanced at each other as they drew nearer to the dark red planet that was Mustafar, their shuttle heading down through the atmosphere revealing that the planet looked much worse up close than it had from the distance of space. There were volcanoes everywhere, rivers of lava and pools of magma littering the surface. There was smoke rising from the volcanoes, ash filling the air, making it difficult to see. The readings that the shuttle were giving off told them that the planet's temperature would be difficult to bear, not impossible, but very uncomfortable. They would need to leave their Jedi robes behind to make it more bearable. Or, at least, Amira would. Having spent his life on a desert planet like Tatooine, Anakin was more resistant to the heat than she was, but he chose to leave his robe behind as well. The less they carried with them the more mobility they'd have and the less chance that their robe would catch fire or be used against them.

They needed every advantage, too much rested on them at the moment, the end of the war was in their hands.

They'd received a transmission from Neeva, a majority of the Jedi that had been sent off world had contacted her. They were all alive, having escaped Order 66…but a few were not so lucky. Still, it was more than they ever thought they'd be able to help and a handful of them were near enough to get to Mustafar and help them deal with the Separatists, but they wouldn't be there for a short while now and they could not risk any delays. They HAD to go confront the Separatists now and hopefully be able to wait for the rest of the Jedi later.

The small shuttle set down on a complex of landing platforms where a small base was set up. The Separatists would be expecting Anakin to arrive, from what Palpatine had implied in his orders to Anakin. They wouldn't think it suspicious that a Jedi craft was landing, but if more arrived…the alarms would sound. So truly, they had to enter the facility quickly and deal with the Separatist leaders before the other Jedi arrived. They couldn't risk one of them sending out a call to Palpatine just yet. The moment the man realized that Anakin had 'betrayed' him, would be the moment they lost their advantage.

They had to make sure that all things were taken care of before Senator Amidala could make a motion to the Senate. If they could end the war and confirm that, then it would be easier to unseat the Chancellor if he tried to use the Jedi against the Republic.

Anakin reached out and took Amira's hand as they stood, heading for the cockpit hatch that would lead out to the planet. They'd just made it a few feet away when a beeping sounded behind them.

Anakin turned to see R2-D2, a small little droid that Senator Amidala had given to Neeva and the Order as thanks for their services in protecting her from her assassinations, popped up from the ship, beeping at them happily. Neeva had recommended that they take the little droid with them as R2-D2 was, according to her, exceptional are repair and navigation and a very useful droid to have in a pinch. They'd taken her word to heart and the droid had been placed with their shuttle.

"R2," Anakin shook his head, "Stay with the ship."

Amira smiled slightly as R2 let out a sadder beep but turned back towards the ship. She glanced at Anakin a moment, taking a breath, "This is it," she murmured.

Anakin nodded, starting to step forward towards the base, but paused, turning back to her and kissing her quickly, "Promise me you will be careful," he rested his forehead to her, he needed to know she'd be ok before he went in there.

He was almost questioning the Council's decision to make them partners on missions. How could he focus if he was worrying about her? He'd be even more distracted with her beside him and IN danger than with him at the Temple or some other mission and wondering if she was ok.

Amira let out a small laugh, "I'm not YOU, Skywalker," she teased, squeezing his hands a moment, "I'm always careful. It's YOU that should be careful."

"I'll be fine," he assured her, "I've improved quite a bit in my saber work," he started to smile as well.

Amira looked up at him, "I'll have your back, and you'll have mine, and if we're separated," she took a breath, nodding to herself, "We both know what the other is capable of. No one can touch you with the Force on your side, and no one's been able to best me in a duel in the last year."

"I thought your Master…" he began, a hint of a knowing tease on his face.

"When I'm not utterly torn up about our torrid love affair," she rolled her eyes, nudging him to turn and start walking, "We both know what the other can handle. And we CAN handle this. Together or apart," she glanced at him, "I trust you Anakin."

He smiled at that, "I trust you too."

And with that, they both looked towards the base and made their way towards it, ready for whatever they might face within. Anakin led the way through the halls, having been given a schematic of the base so he would know where to go and where to find the Separatist leaders. It took them no time at all to reach the main control center of the base. It was a large room, almost circular in design, with large monitors on the walls displaying footage from across the Galaxy, control panels lining the bases of them. And there they were, the horde of Separatist leaders, the various aliens gathered around a hexagonal table in the middle of the room that was glowing with red holographic projections of the Clone Troops.

It took the Separatists a bit longer to realize that Anakin was standing in the doorway, Amira off to the side of the frame, waiting for his signal, than it had for them to find the room.

"Welcome, Lord Vader," one of the leaders greeted, "We've been expecting you."

Anakin merely lifted his hand towards one of the control panels, using the Force to force a power surge, cutting off the power to them, ensuring that they wouldn't be able to put a distress to Palpatine while also triggering the failsafes for the doors, causing the security doors to shut and lock all around the room save for the one he was standing in, the sensors not allowing it to close with someone in the way.

"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic and by order of the Jedi Council, you are under arrest," Anakin stated.

The aliens glanced at each other a moment, before laughing, which was, admittedly, not something Amira or Anakin expected them to do.

"You are very funny, my Lord," another Separatist called.

They all grew very serious, however, when Anakin activated his lightsaber, the blue hue of it all the Separatists needed to see to know that the man before them was NO Sith Lord, but the farthest thing from it.

Within the span of a single breath, the Separatists pulled their weapons, their pistols and blasters, and began to fire at Anakin who quickly deflected the blasts and made his way into the room. He hadn't meant to fight, hadn't intended to launch an attack, he'd merely used the saber to show that he was being serious, that he was on the side of the Senate and the Republic instead of the Empire the Chancellor was trying to build. But the aliens had attacked and that left him little choice but to retaliate and defend himself.

He fought his way into the room, glancing over only a moment when one of the Separatists tried to run for the open doorway…only for Amira to appear in it and push the man back with the Force.

It was hard, it was confusing and there was so much happening that neither Anakin nor Amira could worry for the other, could allow themselves to be distracted by them as they focused on their own battles and keeping themselves safe for the other. There were blasts flying past, not just from the Separatists but their guards and the various droids that were working the controls as well. They fought hard, trying to keep from having to kill any of the Separatists, knowing that the men should answer for their crimes before trial and the Galaxy, but a few lives were taken, they had to be, when one got too close to them or the only defensive blow that could be made was with a saber. But they tried to keep that to a minimum, choosing instead to send the aliens flying with the Force, crashing into the walls and controls and each other, knocking them unconscious or making minor wounds to take them down before knocking them out with their feet. They had begun to spilt their efforts though, Amira focusing more on taking out the droids with her saber while Anakin manipulated the Force to throw the others. While she had been getting better at her control of the Force, she was still better at pulling things to her than pushing them away. She managed to do so with a handful of the Separatists, but Anakin had taken care of most of them while she focused on stopping the droids.

They only paused, only took breath when the room was full of unconscious bodies and a corpse or two, to look at each other, nodding that they were fine before they carried on, moving out of the room and into all the others of the base, the Conference room being next, a lesser amount of Separatists in there but still those needing to be dealt with.

The Separatists there had more warning however and one quickly opened a door, calling in Droidekas to help. Amira glanced at Anakin and made a sign towards the droids that he nodded to, focusing on the people while she took down the droids, only stopping when the last droid was torn in half.

Amira panted, turning sharply to look at Anakin as a thud sounded behind her, to see he'd thrown the last Separatist into the conference table, incapacitating him. They looked at each other from across the room, not moving, but using their senses, Anakin's still more sharp than her own, to sense if there were any more beings in the facility, and breathed easier when nothing but themselves and the ones in the last few rooms came back to them. They quickly made their way towards each other, hugging tightly the moment they met, nearly sagging in relief that the mission had been successful.

They stiffened, though, when alarms began to sound and ran back to the control center, only to laugh when they saw what had triggered it, three other Jedi shuttles were setting down on the landing platforms.

"It makes sense," Anakin mumbled, his arm around her waist, holding her close.

"What?" she glanced at him.

"They come only AFTER the fun's been had."

Amira could only shake her head, but she had to agree…they had ended the war, the war was over, the Separatists were defeated, and they had all the faith in the world that Senator Amidala and the other Jedi had been able to stop Palpatine as well.

~8~

Anakin smiled to himself, feeling proud and relieved, as he led one of the restrained Separatists towards a Jedi shuttle, his hands tight on the alien's bound wrists. The other Jedi were to transport the Separatists back to Coruscant to ensure they were dealt with to the highest degree of the law, which was just as they deserved.

"The war is over," the Separatists grumbled as he was forced to walk, "Lord Sidious promised us peace! We only want…"

"Lord Sidious will have no power very soon," Anakin assured the Separatist, "Not even he can save you from your crimes," he shoved the Separatist into the hands of the Jedi at the edge of the shuttle, nodding his head to the Trandoshanian Jedi that was standing there, a Jedi that looked rather like a humanoid reptile.

He looked over to see Amira handing off the last Separatist to one of the Twi'lek Masters with a bow of her own head, before they met in the middle. They stood there, watching as the Jedi closed their hatches and the ships began to ascend, taking the Separatists with them.

"We did it," Amira breathed as the ships grew smaller in the sky.

Anakin couldn't help but smile, relief filling him, "Come," he nodded towards their shuttle, "We should contact our Masters and see what has happened with the Senate."

Amira nodded, turning to follow him, the two of them just reaching the hatch…when they stiffened, sensing a shift in the Force, a threat approaching, and quickly turned, grabbing their lightsabers in unison when they saw a Federation ship setting down on the other end of the platform. They didn't even hesitate to activate their sabers when the hatch to the ship opened and they saw the figure within clutching a lightsaber of his own.

Count Dooku.

A/N: I've read that R2-D2 was given to Anakin when he became a Jedi Knight by Padme, but in this story, since they weren't as close, Padme gave it to Neeva and the Order as thanks for helping stop the assassinations and the battle of Geonosis. I hope you liked the Padme-Amira moment, props to the two for being mature women about a mutual care for a boy ;)

But oh boy! Only 1 chapter left! }:)

Some notes on reviews...

Lol, nope, sadly no 3 chapters in a day :(

Order 65 wasn't mentioned as they weren't aware of it, they were focusing on Order 66 :) I feel like the Order wouldn't know every order that the Clones were trained to follow, I think there were 150 Contingency Orders, but we only know about 5-6 of them ourselves :) I can't see the Clones giving up more information to anyone than they need to :)

I can say there'll definitely be some thoughts on the Code coming from Yoda very soon ;) It's definitely a tricky position for the Council in terms of keeping Anakin and Amira in the order, I think, if they weren't already planning and wanting to stay in the Order without intent to leave it, it could definitely be seen as slavery in a way. To them, they made a commitment and they don't want to leave the Order, would do anything to stay in it except not be allowed to be together :( Which they thankfully aren't going to be forced to face now :) It was a very small moment where Anakin mentioned he'd had a nightmare the same time Amira had, but it's discussed more here :) Oh Dooku's definitely back and yup, it's Padme :)

Thanks :) I'll definitely try to check out the novelization :) The Hook/OC will be out tomorrow ;)

Nope, not Jar Jar, but Padme :) Anakin's definitely taken a very big step towards his destiny here :)

Not the same nightmare as with Padme, but a similar fear behind it, that something will happen to Amira and she'll die :(

I'm glad you felt it was random! ^-^ I was trying to make it seem very out of place so that it becomes suspicious to us, as we can see in Anakin's mind, but believable to Palpatine who's basing it on his observations of Anakin :) I'm glad I managed to trick you a bit ;)

I think they might have something like that class :) I mean, no matter the training, when a person reaches a certain age they probably have odd urges that have to be explained and taught meditations and things to ignore :) It's sort of like, if they go with their Master on a mission and there's someone pregnant, they'd be curious how it happened, or wonder how THEY came to be as well if they didn't know about reproduction :) It probably comes up on a very private Master-Padawan discussion when they reach an age that it makes sense to do so at :)