Sorry that this took longer than usual. My Muse would either abandon me for long periods or laugh at me.
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Anakin straightened his robes as the lift sped upwards. His mental shields were up and tighter than the Temple's System.
He was about to meet Padmé Amidala for the first time in ten years.
"Don't tell me that you are nervous about meeting a senator?" Obi-Wan said jokingly. "Just a little." Anakin admitted. "Last we saw her I was a child and I don't want her to think of me as one." Anakin replied.
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. Ever since they got the news that they would be protecting Senator Padmé Amidala Anakin had been acting strange.
Finally the lift came to a halt and they stepped out and were met by a familiar gungan. "Obi?" Jar Jar asked in curious excitement. "Obi!" He then shrieked and started to shake Obi-Wan's hand; pumping it really.
Anakin couldn't help but smile. He wanted to give Jar Jar a warning about being used but wasn't sure how to say it or even if he should say it.
Don't! His Mother's voice rang in his mind.
Anakin visibly jerked at the order. His Mother rarely used a harsh tone with anything let alone him.
He was about to ask why when Jar jar gave him Guru Bear Hug. "You not little anymore Ani!" Jar Jar said excitedly.
"I'm glad to see you too Jar Jar." Anakin said in greeting. Mentally berating himself for not paying attention to what was happening around him.
They followed the excited gungan to a sitting area in the apartment where several people stood with their backs turned to them.
"Looky, looky Senator!" Jar jar said excitedly. "Des Jedi haven arriven!" He announced.
Anakin watched as Padmé approached them. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Senator." Obi-Wan said politely. "It's been far to long Master Kenobi." Padmé said just as politely if not more.
Then her eyes fell on him. "Ani?" she asked, shocked. "My Goodness you have grown." She commented. "You've grown too." Anakin said and felt like hitting himself. He sounded like a pathetic school boy.
"How so?" Padmé asked, curious and slightly playful. "Last I saw you you were younger." Anakin said slowly, watching his every word. "You have truly grown in wisdom and other things." Anakin said, wishing that he could hit himself the entire time.
Padmé smiled pleasantly. "Ani, you will always be that sweet boy that I met on Tatooine." She said.
Now Anakin wished he could kick himself.
Slowly they sat down on sofas in the sitting area.
"We will do everything in our power to keep you safe from these assassins; milady." Obi-Wan told Padmé calmly. "We are one of the best Master/Padawan teams at the Temple." Anakin put in, hoping to redeem himself.
Padmé smiled faintly. "Hopefully this mystery will unravel with your mere presence." She said and stood. "I will retire for the night. Captain Typho will show you around the apartment."
Anakin watched as she walked down a side corridor to what must be her bedchamber.
Anakin sighed. He had hoped that they would be able to catch up.
"Shesa muy happy to see yousa!" Jar Jar said. Anakin nodded. "I know, Jar Jar." Anakin replied.
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Obi-Wan sighed.
It had started out as a normal day; until Anakin woke up from a nightmare. The nightmare seemed was about a girl he knew from back home. She was hurt and crying for help.
Upon questioning Anakin it turned out that he had been having nightmares for awhile about the girl in pain.
Truth be told Obi-Wan was concerned but he was unsure how to proceed. He wanted to tell Anakin that dreams past in time but Anakin had had prophetic dreams before that came to past.
Obi-Wan wasn't sure what was more unnerving: Anakin's night visions or the way he sometimes knew things without being told.
He reentered Senator Amidala''s sitting room and found Anakin meditating on the floor. A frown graced Obi-Wan's face. Anakin didn't like to meditate and usually found an excuse to do it another way.
Before he could comment Anakin stood.
"It's too quiet Master, it reminds me of a tomb or another place that the dead are laid to rest." Anakin commented. "We have been on missions that were quieter." Obi-Wan said as he reached for the datapad that linked him to the security cams in the senator's bedchamber and groaned. "What?" Anakin asked. "She covered the cam! What was she thinking?" Obi-Wan demanded.
Anakin shrugged. "I don't sense anything in there except for her and R2. She must either feel very safe or exposed."
Another sigh escaped Obi-Wan's lips.
"I hope that you are her both know that there are more than one way to kill someone." Obi-Wan said.
Anakin turned to face him. "I know, but I got the impression that she wants these people caught at nearly any cast. I don't agree with her plan but I couldn't sway her."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened."You're letting her use herself as bait?" He demanded. "As I said I couldn't sway her. I thought that it would be safer than allow her to make a bigger target of herself."
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Ooh!
I'm posting now so that I can feel productive. The next chapter of Travels will be updated when my Muse cooperates.
Who else is upset about PIPA and SOPA?