Chapter Eleven
As a Jedi Master, I had been trained in a variety of ways to maintain my self control, which is why I couldn't believe how close I had come to losing it with Padme. I hid that fact from her successfully, I'd thought, managing to make it across her room and out into the hallway before I collapsed against the door, my hand immediately flying to my mouth. I could still feel her lips upon me, could taste her essence on my tongue, could smell her fragrance lingering on my skin. I had never wanted to make love with someone so badly before!
But her life was in danger, and my desires would have to wait. I had to return to the scene of her so-called accident and get a good look at that balcony.
I returned immediately to the roof, only to discover maintenance had already replaced the structure.
"Where's the piece of balcony that broke?" I asked one of the resort employees who were milling about, apparently discussing the exciting events of the day.
"What?" one of them replied.
I repeated the question with just a touch more authority, only to be approached by one of the security personnel.
"We have taken the faulty structure to our disposal facility. I'm sure it's been destroyed by now. Is there a problem, Master Kenobi?"
Great! Just great.
"That was evidence!"
"Evidence?" the tall, slender male repeated, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at me. "The word 'evidence' would denote you suspect foul play."
I couldn't say, since they had destroyed the railing!
"It's probably nothing," I told him. "Just a feeling I had."
Frustration forced me to pace - a habit I had picked up during my early padawan years. The staff's irresponsible actions had left me no other choice to make a more direct approach and follow my instincts, which were telling me the dear astrophysicist may have had something to do with this.
But why would a scientist want to kill Padme? Unless, he wasn't a scientist after all. There was only one way to find out.
I returned to my own room and opened a communique to Coruscant. I made a quick note of the sticker next to the device which listed the additional costs for intergalactic communiques, but figured Master Windu could pay for it. He was the one who forced me to come here in the first place.
Almost as if he knew something was going to happen. Huh. Was that possible? Had Master Yoda seen something? If so, why hadn't he mentioned anything?
No time to contemplate the implications of that thought. My communication had relayed successfully and a familiar face appeared in holographic form.
"Greetings, Padawan."
"Master! It's good to see you! How are you?"
"I'm fine Anakin. How are your studies going?"
The young man smirked. He was having trouble with his Ancient Philosophies course, and I was worried about it since I wasn't there to assist him.
"Master Windu's been helping me...but..."
"I know Anakin, I know. Just be patient and do your best. That's all anyone expects from you." I understood how difficult Windu could be and I really wished I could be there to help, but Padme's safety required my being here, and here is where I needed to be.
"Are you having a good time, Master?"
It was my turn to smirk, and my Padawan chuckled at my expense.
"Just be patient, Master."
I smiled in response. Having a padawan could be trying sometimes, but I missed the young man.
"Listen, Anakin. I need you to do me a favor. I need you to research a Correllian astrophysicist by the name of Dane Zanata," I spelled the name out carefully for him, and waited while Anakin disappeared from view to retrieve his datapad.
"Give me a minute, Master," the young man requested when he returned, typing in the infomation I'd given him. "Are you looking for the guy? What did he do?"
I allowed the questions to pass unanswered. The truth was, I didn't know the answers. I was playing off a hunch. Instead, I decided to distract Anakin's inate curiosity.
"You'll never guess who's at the resort with me."
"Huh?"
"Senator Amidala," I told him, watching him closely to note his response. There had been a time I suspected he had developed his own feelings for Padme.
"Seriously?" he said without bothering to look up. "Tell her hello for me!"
"Anakin," I said a bit forcefully to gain his attention. "Tell me; do you have feelings for the Senator? I mean, romantic feelings?"
My Padawan's head lifted slowly, and he was silent for a moment before he spoke. "I used to think so, but honestly I don't think about her much any more. Now, I think about things like ancient philosophy."
He stuck out his tongue when he finished his statement, causing me to laugh, and my thoughts immediately returned to Padme and the kiss we had shared. I should've known better than to allow my mind to wander. I had spent the majority of the past ten years with Anakin, and he could read my body language like no other.
"Aha!" he exclaimed, pointing a finger at the projector. "But you do! Master! Are you falling in love with Padme?"
"Padawan, I didn't say that, and we're not having this discussion over intergalactic communications."
"As you wish," Anakin replied, but I knew him as well, and I knew this conversation was going to come up again soon.
"I've tried, Master," the young man continued, his focus once again on the datapad. "But I can't find any information about anyone named Dane Zanata. As far as the database is concerned, there is no Dane Zanata."
Huh. Not exactly what I had expected, but it did confirm my belief there was something suspicious about The Annoyance. Perhaps it was time the two of us got together to talk about that.
