Balance of the Heart
Chapter 11: Attack of the Clones Part 5
Back on Naboo...
A water speeder driven by Paddy Accu, the retreat caretaker, skims across the lake away from the island landing platform where a chrome Naboo Starship rests.
Anakin,Padme, Seria and Mason were sitting in the speeder as it skims away to where a lodge rises on a beautiful island in the middle of the lake.
The four of them walked up the stairs from where the water speeder is parked onto a terrace overlooking a lovely garden.
Behind them, Paddy Accu supervises two serving girls, Nandi and Teckla, as they carry the bags into the Lodge.
Seira and Mason stop at the balustrade.
Seira looks out across the garden to the shimmering lake and the mountains rising beyond.
They had a perfect view of the mountains surrounding them.
"When I was in Level Three, we used to come here for school retreat. See that island?" Padmé pointed to an island in the distance. "We used to swim there every day. I love the water. We used to lie on the sand and let the sun dry as and try to guess the names of the birds singing…" Padmé trailed off as if she was remembering a memory.
Seira leaned on the marble railing and closed her eyes, hearing the birds chirping and feeling the wind on her face.
Padmé looked at Seira. "I have to speak with Paddy Accu, I'll be inside if you need me."
Anakin gives Mason a 'I'm watching you.' look before following Padme.
Mason looks at the mountains. "This place is magical."
"It sure is." Seira said softly, running her hands on the railing. "You could look into the glass and see the water. The way it ripples and moves. It looked so real...but it wasn't."
"Sometimes, when you believe something to be real, it becomes real. Real enough, anyway..."Mason said.
They look into each others eyes.
Mason touches her chin.
"I used to think if you looked too deeply into glass, you would lose yourself."Seira said.
"I think it's true..."Mason said and kisses Seira on the lips, who doesn't resist.
But then she came to her senses and pulls away.
"I shouldn't have done that."Seira said.
Mason feels embarrassed "I'm sorry. When I'm around you, my mind is no longer my own."
"It's the situation... the stress..."Seira said.
"...the view."Mason said.
The two give each other a small smile before looking back at the beautiful view.
Back on Coruscant...
Obi-Wan's Starfighter was ready for take off.
Obi-Wan and Mace Windu stood beside it.
"Be wary, this disturbance in the Force is growing stronger."Mace Windu said.
"I am concerned for my Padawans. Seira is ready to be on her own, but I'm not sure about Anakin."Obi-Wan said.
"The Council is confident in this decision, have exceptional skills. The Council is confident in its decision, Obi-Wan. If the prophecy is true, they well be the ones to bring balance to the Force."Mace Windu said.
"But he still has much to learn and his abilities have made him...well... arrogant. I realize now what you and Master Yoda knew from the beginning...he was to old to start his training and..."Obi-Wan said.
"There's something else?"Mace Windu asked.
"Master, he should not have been given this assignment. I'm afraid Anakin won't be able to protect the Senator with Seira and Mason."Obi-Wan said.
"Why?"Mace Windu said.
"He has a... an emotional connection with her. It's been there since he was boy. Now he's confused... distracted."Obi-Wan said.
"Obi-Wan, you must have faith that he and his sister will take the right path."Mace Windu said.
Obi-Wan climbed into the cockpit of the Starfighter.
"Has Master Yoda gained any insight into whether or not this war will come about?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Probing the Dark Side is a dangerous process. He could be in seclusion for days... May the force be with you."Mace Windu said.
In the Jedi temple Yoda was sitting with his eyes closed, meditating silently.
Back on Naboo...
The setting sun touches the mountain peaks. The lake glows in the rose-tinted light.
Floating lamps glean softly like jewels at the lodge.
Nandi placed desserts in front of Padme and Seira. Teckla does the same for Anakin and Mason.
The dessert were some kind of fruit.
Padme picks up her fork and goes to spear a piece, but it moved!
She frowns and tries again and the fruit moves.
She look up at Anakin and his eyes were on his plate.
"You two did that?"Padme asked.
Anakin and Mason glanced at one another before speaking. "What?"
Padmé glared at the two, before returning to the fruit. She jabbed at the fruit as Anakin subtly moved his hand, the fruit lifting up from the plate and hovering in front of her.
"That! Now stop it!"Padme said.
Seira and Mason laughed and began eating their fruit when it looped.
"Anakin!"Padme laughed.
Anakin moved his fingers and the fruit flies into his hand.
"I'm not really supposed to do that... for fun, I mean. If Master Obi-Wan were here, he'd be very grumpy."He muttered.
"If Master Obi-Wan was here, he'd be very grumpy," Anakin muttered as he cut the fruit in several pieces, sending one back to Padme, while Mason send the rest to Seira.
Seira grabbed the fruit with her fork and grinned, happy to be surrounded by her best friends.
In Seira's room...
A fire blazes in the open hearth.
Seira was sitting in front of it, gazing at the flames.
She looks up as Mason arrived and sits next to her.
"May I tell you something?"Mason said.
"I don't know."Seira said.
"Then how can I tell you?"Mason asked.
"Maybe you should use your Jedi intuition."Seira teased.
"It doesn't work around you. My mind is always a muddle... I can only think of you."Mason said.
Seira knew what he meant. "Mason, don't..."
"From the moment I met you, all those years ago, a day hasn't gone by when I haven't thought of now that I'm close to you again, I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you makes me feel dizzy. I can't breathe. I'm haunted by the kiss you should never have given. You are in my very soul, tormenting me. What can I do? I will do anything you ask..."Mason said.
Seira was speechless. "I can't. We can't. It's just not possible."
"Anything's possible. Seira, please listen..."Mason said.
"You listen. We live in a real world. Come back to it. You're studying to become a Jedi Knight and so am I. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, they will take us to a place we cannot go... regardless of the way we feel about each other."Seira said.
"Then you do feel something! There's an extraordinary connection between us. You can't deny that."Mason said.
"Mason, it doesn't make any difference,Jedi aren't allowed to marry. We swore an oath, remember?Both of us will be expelled from the Order. I will not let you give up your responsibilities...your future, for me."Seira said.
"We are both destined to be a Jedi. I don't think I could be anything else. But you are asking me to be rational. That is something I know I cannot do. I wish I could wish my feelings away... but I can't."Mason said.
"I am not going to give into this. I'm not going to throw my life away. I have more important things to do than fall in love."Seira said.
There is silence as they stare at the fire.
Then an idea came to Mason's head.
"It wouldn't have to be that way...we could keep it a secret."Mason said.
"Then we'd be living a lie. One we couldn't keep even if we wanted to. Anakin saw it. I couldn't do that. Could you, Mason? Could you live like that?"Seira asked.
There was silence for a moment.
"No, you're right. It would destroy us."Mason answered sadly.
In Tipoca Ciity...
The door slides open. Obi-Wan and Taun We enter and cross to where Lama Su rises, smiling, from behind his desk, which, like all the furniture on Kamino, seems made out of pure light.
"May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino... and this is Master Jedi..."Taun said.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi."Obi-Wan said introducing himself.
Lama Su indicates a chair and Obi-Wan sits on it.
The room was bathed in brilliant white light.
The whole place was ultra high-tech.
"I trust you are going to enjoy your stay. We are most happy you have arrived at the best part of the season."Lama said.
"You make me feel most welcome."Obi-Wan said.
"And now to business. You will be delighted to hear we are on schedule. Two hundred thousand units are ready, with another million well on the way."Lama said.
"That is... good news."Obi-Wan said.
"Please tell your Master Sido-Dyas that we have every confidence his order will be met on time and in full. He is well, I hope?"Lama said.
"I'm sorry Master-"Obi-Wan said.
"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. He's still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?"Lama asked.
"Oh, yes. Sido-Dyas."Obi-Wan said.
"You must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself."Lama said.
"That's why I'm here."Obi-Wan said.
In Naboo's Mountain Meadow...
Seira and Mason were in the middle of an idyllic hilly meadow, its lush grasses sprinkled with flowers.
At a distance, a herd of Shaaks graze contentedly.
Seira wore a beautiful ocean colored dress and her hair was tied up in a ponytail.
Beyond is the shimmering expanse of the lake.
Several other lakes stretch to the horizon. The warm air is full of little floating puffballs.
They sat on the grass, in a playful, coy mood, talking.
Seira was picking flowers. "I don't know..."
"Sure you do... you just don't want to tell me."Mason said.
"Are you going to use one of your Jedi mind tricks on me?"Seira teased.
"They only work on the are anything but weak-minded."Mason said.
"It makes you sound cheeky to me."Seira said.
A mischievious little grin creeps across Mason's face. "Well, if it works..."
Seira stares at Mason.
He looks back at her, straight-faced, and can't hold a smile.
"You're making fun of me."Seira giggled.
"On no, I'd be much too frightened to tease a tough Jedi."Mason said sarcastically.
Seira laughed."You're so bad!"
She picks up a piece of fruit and throws it at Mason and he catches it.
Seira throws two more pieces of fruit, and Mason catches them.
"You're always so serious. Always carrying the weight of the universe on your shoulders."Mason said and then starts to juggle the fruit.
Seira laughed and throws more fruit at him. He manages to juggle them too until there are too many, and he loses control and ducks, letting food fall on his head.
Mason stands in front of a Shaak, yelling at it and waving his arms.
Seira starts laughing as Mason runs in circles, chased by the Shaak.
The Shaak crosses in front of Seira.
Mason was riding it, facing the Shaak's tail.
The Shaak bucks and Mason falls off.
Seira jumped up and runs to where Mason was face down in the grass.
She turns him over and he was pulling a stupid face at her.
She yelps in mock fury and takes a swing at him. He catches her arm.
They roll over in the grass. Suddenly, they become aware of the contact between them.
They let go of each other quickly and sit up, looking away.
Mason stands up and holds out his hand to Seira and she takes it.
He pulls her up and now they are easy together, not self-conscious any more.
Seira scrambles up onto the Shaak behind Mason. She puts her arms around his waist and leans against his back.
Abajub digs his heels in and the Shaak started forward, and they ride away.
In Tipoca City...
Obi-Wan, Lama Su and Taun We came out onto a balcony.
Below was a huge parade ground.
The rain and wind were brutal.
Thousands of stormtroopers faces covered by helmets were marching and drilling in formations of several hundred.
"Magnificent, aren't they?"Lama asked and Obi-Wan nodded slowly.
Lama Su conducted Obi-Wan through a large eating area. Taun We followed as they walk by hundreds of clones, who look exactly alike, all about twenty years old, dressed in black.
They were seated at tables and eating.
"We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host. As a result they are totally obedient, taking any order without question."Lama said.
"Who was the original host?"Obi-Wan said.
"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett. We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sido-Dyas hand-picked Jango Fett himself."Lama said.
"Where is this bounty hunter now?"Obi-Wan said.
"Oh, we keep him here. After a few hundred thousand clones, the genetic pattern starts to fade, so we take a fresh supply. He lives here, but he's free to come and go as he pleases."Lama said.
The tour continues through a long corridor followed with narrow, transparent tubes into which clones were climbing. Once in the tube, theclone goes to sleep.
"Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing - an unaltered clone for himself. Curious isn't it?"Lama asked.
"Unaltered?"Obi-Wan asked.
"Pure genetic replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile... and no growth acceleration..."Lama said.
"I would like to meet this Jango Fett."Obi-Wan said.
"I would be most happy to arrange it, for you."Taun said as he bowed and left.
The tour continues through a classroom filled with identical young boy clones.
"You mentioned growth acceleration..."Obi-Wan said.
"Oh yes, it's , a mature clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now, we can do it in half the time. Those items you saw on the parade ground
were started ten years ago, when Sido-dyas first placed the order, and they're already mature..."Lama said.
Obi-Wan looks at the boy clones. "And these?"
"About five years ago."Lama answered.
They entered a space filled with great racks of glass spheres, which are filled with fluid in which embryos were suspended.
"They're immensely superior to droids, capable of independent thought and action."Lama said.
"Very impressive."Obi-Wan said.
"I'd hoped you would be pleased."Lama said.
Obi-Wan gazed at the nearest embryos. "Tell me, prime minister, when my Master Sido-dyas first contacted you, did he say the order was for... himself... or?"
"Himself? Of course not. This army is for the Republic?"Lama said.
"The Republic?"Obi-Wan asked.
"We are also very much against this Count Dooku and his seccessionist movement. We are proud to be of help to the Republic."Lama said.
Taun We showed Obi-Wan into his room.
"I have arranged for you to meet Jango Fett in the morning. Sleep well."Taun said.
The door slides closed behind him.
Obi-Wan looks around, then moves swiftly to check the room over.
Finally, satisfied, he takes out his comlink.
"Arfour, Arfour..."Obi-Wan said.
The R4 D17, Obi-Wan's Astro-Droid, who was sitting on top of Obi-Wan's Starfighter, switches on and beeped.
Obi-Wan heared Arfour beeped through his comlink.
"Arfour relay this, "scramble code five," to Courscant: care of "the old folks home."Obi-Wan said.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
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Should I do some Clone Wars episodes after I finish 'Attack of the Clones' or go straight to Revenge of the Sith?