AN: Thank you so much to all my reviewers from the last chapter!
Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay, Mayo2198, LadySaxophone, ZandraSmith17, KuroOkamii77, QueenRexKenobi124, Lovegranted, Larka Rinna Luna, Lunary, RKF22, and Kilana8!
I always love your kind comments.
Also, a couple people asked how old they are now. Im sorry that it wasn't clearer, its ten years after chapter 1, so Ani is 19 and Obi is 27.
Enjoy the chapter!
The familiar lurch in his stomach due to the lift did nothing to help the anxious churning and flipping of his insides.
He didn't know why he should be feeling like this. He supposed that Padme was pretty and smart, but he had met dozens of girls like that on his missions. Goodness, he had met intergalactic supermodels, and plenty of girls who's charisma and intelligence he was sure would rival padme's. Besides, he hadn't seen Padme in ten years.
When they had last met, he had been a little boy. Yes, Padme had comforted him, been a good friend to him, been possibly one of the nicest people he had met. But there had been other people that had filled the same requirements as she. Several handmaidens, Qui-Gon, a few pilots, and Obi. He wondered if he would feel the same if he were going to meet with any of the others today.
With a jolt he realized that he had. Obi was standing right next to him. He frowned as he thought about it. Obi was smart and pretty too. He definitely liked Obi, probably even a little more than he should. How would he feel today if he were meeting her for the first time?
He pushed the thought from his head. This wasn't helping anything. He needed to have his wits about him. He wanted to make a good impression on his first mission with Obi. Not only was this a test from his master to see if he was getting closer to taking the trials, also if the council liked the results from this mission, there was a distinct possibility that they could get assigned more missions together. That was what Anakin was hoping for, any time spent with Obi was time well spent.
Maybe the nerves had nothing to do with Padme. He nodded to himself, that was actually highly probable. First mission without a master was enough to make any padawan slightly anxious.
"Anakin" The quietly amused voice cut into his thoughts. He looked down at the incredulous face of his senior partner. "Will you please stop broadcasting you're emotions? You're probably making every even slightly force-sensitive person in the near vicinity want to puke."
Anakin snorted slightly. At any other time, he would have given just about anything to hear Obi say 'puke.' However, he knew she was right. "Sure, Sorry." He quickly strengthened his mental shields, and closed his eyes taking deep breathes trying to calm his unstable nerves.
Before he had left, Master Yoda had cornered him. He had then been treated to one of the sternest lectures of his life. Apparently half of the council was under the impression that Anakin was going to mess this mission up big time. Yoda, who had assured them that nothing of the sort would happen, had given Anakin strict instructions to follow every one of Knight Kenobi's orders.
Normally this would have left little effect on his mind. Anakin was well enough aware of his own flaws to admit that one, but as he was preparing to walk out the door, Yoda had said something that made Anakin stop.
Apparently this was Obi's first mission with a younger Jedi. How she handled it would reflect back on her, and the council's future willingness to allow her to train an apprentice. The memory of little Tavern danced across his mind. Also, Yoda had confided to Anakin that most of the council members reluctance to allow this mission had little to do with Anakins misbehavior. They were too used to that to be overly concerned with it, it's just how he was, there had been plenty of Knights and padawans similar to him in the past. But instead it had to do with how they believed the young Knight could handle him.
With the threat of Obi'd future hanging on his head, he had made a quick and sound decision in his mind to follow every order without his usual insubordination. She was the Knight, she was in charge.
Nodding to himself, he stepped out of the lift into the hallway. Beside him, Obi was still throwing him uncertain looks. To reassure her, he gave her a smile.
They were greeted in the hallway by a creature that Anakin never thought he would see again.
"Obi! Obi! It's-a so good to see you!"
"Hi Jar Jar-"
Anakin tuned out the other two as he looked around the apartment. It was definitely the high end of wealth in the galaxy. After years of being a slave then going straight to being a Jedi, going from little to nothing, this was jaw dropping. Now he had been in the homes of royalty and delegates before, but something about this was more personal. Maybe it was because he knew Padme.
"Obi, I want to thank you so much for coming."
Anakin knew that voice. He spun around. Yes, he decided, Padme was definitely pretty. Although, she hadn't seemed to have changed much in the ten years they hadn't seen each other.
"I wish we didn't have to reunite under such awful circumstances. Padawan Skywalker?" Obi and Padme both looked over at him. He smiled a smile that felt slightly awkward and a few seconds delayed.
"Yes," He spoke quickly to cover up the awkward moment. "what happened on the landing pad was a tragedy. We will do all in our power to protect you from the one who is making the attempts on your life."
Behind Padme, Obi nodded in approval at his words. His insides seemed to inflate slightly.
"Ani? Little Ani?" His insides deflated right back down instantly. Little Ani? "My goodness, you have grown."
Slightly annoyed he nodded. "It has been ten years, Senator." He was aware that he was being rude, but he didn't really care. That was until he saw Obi's lips tighten and her raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I suppose it has." She tilted her head at him and smiled. "But you will always be that little boy that I met on Tatooine." Then she turned back to Obi, so she didn't see Anakins scowl of annoyance. She may be pretty, but she was proving to be slightly annoying. A big disappointment.
Standing with his arms crossed, he decided to let the Jedi Knight handle the situation. Wishing he could say exactly what he thought of her last statement, but also focusing on the fact that he was to be very well behaved on the mission. It was proving much more difficult than he originally thought it would be.
"I can't help but feel that this security is unnecessary." Padme was speaking again.
"Senator, your life is very important. Especially to the people of Naboo. It would be a very unfortunate loss to the senate, besides I know your family and friends would disagree." Obi spoke confidently and yet soothingly. Anakin could see why she had gained the reputation among the Jedi as an amazing negotiator.
"You should be trying to catch the person who is doing this, instead of following me around, wasting your time protecting me. I have a wonderful security team already." Padme was growing impatient, and Anakin could sort of see her point.
"It is our assignment to protect you, I'm sorry if you do not like it, but it is our job." Obi replied.
It was the look on Padme's face that prompted Anakin to speak. "Wouldn't we still be doing our duty by catching the assassin?"
Obi looked up at him surprised. He could tell that she hadn't expected him to resist her, especially so early in the mission.
"Shouldn't we be trying to stop the attacks all together, instead of just preventing them as they happen?" He knew his tone was rude, but he couldn't seem to stop the words coming out of his mouth.
"Shouldn't our duty be to-"
She cut him off angrily. Or as angry as he had ever heard her. "Padawan Skywalker. We will do as the council has instructed, and you will learn your place."
Feeling slightly annoyed and embarrassed at being told off in front of Padme and her entourage. "I am almost a Knight, I feel my opinion is worth just as much as yours."
There was a slightly awkward silence. Everyone stood waiting for Obi's retort. He could tell that everyone else felt that the argument between the two Jedi was something private, that shouldn't have been overheard. Obi watched him, her blank Jedi mask on, but he noticed her eyes were a grey color, hurt was churning just beneath the surface.
"That may or may not be true, it is not for me to decide." He voice was quiet and calm, but it still held its authoritative edge. "However, you are currently a padawan, I am currently a Knight. Your opinion has been heard, but the ranking still stands. We will do as the council has instructed."
She turned then to talk to Padme's security team.
Anakin instantly felt a wave of shame flow through him. He was supposed to be trying not to make this mission overly difficult for Obi. He was failing.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned. It was Padme.
"Thank you Anakin, I appreciate your support, even if it does nothing." Then she gave him a large gorgeous smile. He tried to smile back, but found it ineffective. As much as enjoyed Padme's praise, he wished he had Obi's approval more.
"She shouldn't have covered the security cameras" Obi muttered to Anakin later that night.
As much as he felt Padme deserved her privacy, he was leaning towards agreeing with Obi on this one. Although, part of him was eager to agree with anything she said just to get back on her good side.
Anakin looked out at the night view of Coruscant. It was very pretty he decided. He could see why some people loved Coruscant more than any other planet. He tended toward the more lush, alive ones, but at night, with the lights of the city on, he understood why some, like Obi, found comfort here.
It was quiet, his mind floated back to the night before. he stiffened, no he couldn't think about that. It would do no good, there was no point. Dwelling on it would only serve to make him irritable and upset, therefore rude and intollerrable.
Of course, he could never hide his emotions from Obi. Over the years he had learned how to disguise them fairly well. There were only a few people he couldn't hide them from. Master Yoda, Myler, occasionally Master Windu, and Obi.
"Anakin," She spoke quietly, looking at him with concern. The argument from earlier that afternoon forgotten. "What's bothering you?"
Anakin bit his lip and looked out at the Coruscanti night again. He didn't want to tell her, he had a suspicion of the reaction he would get, but he didn't think she would just let it go either.
"Anakin. Please." She asked from behind him.
He remained silent, not looking at her. Then finally consented.
"I've been having dreams. Horrible dreams. They are so real, it's like i'm right there. I could reach out and touch it." he could sense her listening intently.
"Visions" She murmured.
He nodded.
"What are they about?" She asked. She was cautious, as though worried.
"One's about my mother, the other, I'm not sure. But in both, there's pain and someone, my mom, dies."
She let out a slow breath. Anakin waited for her reaction anxiously. He needed her support in this. She had no idea how it was tearing him apart.
"I know how...Disturbing visions can be," She came around and stood beside him. Anakin could see her in his peripheral vision as he watched the traffic fly by. "But visions rarely come true. It's best just not to focus on them."
Anakin felt disappointed. He didn't know what he expected her to say, or even what else she could have said, but what he heard did not meet whatever expectations he had been mentally setting. Felling annoyed and slightly angry, he turned to her.
"No, you don't understand. I've been having these...dreams for years now, but they're becoming clearer every passing night."
She tilted her head looking up at him. Her typical jedi mask was in place. She bit her lip. Thinking. He knew she was having an internal battle if whether to say what she thought, or say what the order wanted her to say. The order won.
"Dreams pass in time." was her simple, unfeeling answer.
Frustrated, he reached out and grabbed her upper arms. He wanted to shake her. He needed her to understand about the dreams. How they tortured him. how he woke up at least three time a week crying because the thought of his mother's death was so excruciatingly painful. How he didn't know if he would be able to keep his mind if his mother died, especially if she died in pain like his visions always showed. She was his friend. She had to understand.
Her infamous Jedi Masked slipped. In alarm she tried to break free from his grasp, but he was just so much stronger than her. "Anakin! Let me go!"
As though shocked by Yoda's glimmer stick, he let go. The words echoing in his head.'Anakin! Let me go!'
A sudden horrid realization overcoming him.
'Anakin! Let me go!'
'Ani, you have to let me go.'
He was sure the horror showed on his face. She certainly looked more concerned than he had ever seen her before. But they didn't have time to dwell on what had just happened. For at that very moment the force shrieked a warning from the room where Padme was sleeping.
AN: I hope you enjoyed it! Please Review!