Disclaimer: Any dialogue, characters, situations, or plants you recognize are not mine.
The Jedi temple was shrouded in darkness, as night fell on the city planet. Most of those inside were either sleeping, meditating, or finishing on their practices. In one corridor, two masters walked side by side – forgive me, one walked as the other levitated so as to be at the same level with his companion. Master Windu was much larger than Master Yoda, and therefore was trying to walk slowly as to allow his fellow Jedi to keep pace with his floating chair.
"On your mind, something is, Master Windu. Something troubling." the Jedi Grand Master stated to his old padawan.
"Something has been troubling me since yesterday, something which I can't understand. Why couldn't we see this attack on the Senator? It is very unusual that we were unaware of such an event before it occurred. Something is off." The Korunnai voiced.
"Hmm. Masking the future, is this disturbance in the Force." Master Yoda said, "To catch us unaware, its goal was. The Dark Side, I sense in this matter."
Master Windu sighed, "The prophecy is coming true, the Dark Side is growing. But why could we not sense it?" he asked.
"Only those who have turned to the Dark Side can sense the possibilities of the future, in such a matter." Master Yoda answered.
"It's been ten years, and the Sith still have yet to show themselves. They can't wait forever, its impossible for them to do that. They are too proud to keep in darkness for too long." Windu said adamantly.
Master Yoda nodded, "Out there, they are. A certainty that is. Show themselves, they will, it is only a matter of when." he said, as they fell into troubled and thoughtful silence, walking out of the corridor. Their footsteps were the only sound as they went along.
Anakin stood on Padmés' balcony in a meditative state. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan had gone to check on all the security systems, leaving him to make sure nothing happened at the actual apartment. His mind wandered, using his senses he could "feel," the many occupants of the building – but he was searching for only one. Qui-Gon had spoken to him earlier in the day, making it clear to him that his behavior toward Ozara earlier was unacceptable. He felt guilty for being so short with her, his nervousness being his excuse. But he knew he needed to apologize, and figured that this would be the best way.
He found her, she was getting ready for bed – her mind exhausted from her report that she had written earlier in the day.
'Ozara?' he asked in her mind, it had been so many years since he had contacted her mind. Last time was an emergency, he only hoped that she would respond. He smiled when she answered, a slight comfort from his own thoughts.
'Anakin?' she replied, 'What is it?'
'I'm sorry' he said deciding to just get it out at once, 'I didn't mean to be so. . .well short when speaking with you earlier. You weren't aware of what was going on. I suppose I was just nervous.' he apologized in what he hoped conveyed that he really did feel sorry.
She sighed in her mind, 'I wasn't too worried about it, Anakin. I understood your anxiety. I may not have liked it, but its only natural to be nervous about seeing someone that you haven't even spoken to in years. I was just as nervous last night when you guys came for dinner.' she replied softly. He could hear the slight hurt in her voice.
'What's wrong?' he asked in concern.
'Nothing. Why? Is something wrong?' she retorted.
'No. . . ' he answered.
'Then there is nothing wrong, is there?' he was surprised at her tone, it was as if she had no desire to speak of what she was thinking of. 'Don't worry about me, Anakin. You have someone much more important that you should be taking care of. How did it go anyway?' was her inquiry.
'Marvelous.' he replied, did he really want to tell her just how ridiculous he'd been? 'We met, bowed, sat down. I embarrassed myself by speaking out of turn, but she seemed to understand and just smiled.'
'She smiled?' Ozara asked with a laugh in her voice, but said nothing more.
'Yeah, but she didn't remember me at first, like you did. But Qui-Gon says that its because you and I have a different relationship. Zar, I have thought about her every day since we parted – but she didn't even remember me.' he replied despondently.
'You have changed a lot, Anakin,' she replied, 'And seeing as she is older than you, that may account for her momentary lapse in memory.' she chuckled.
'She's not that much older!' Anakin replied defensively, 'She's only six years my senior. You should have seen her, Zar. she's just as beautiful as I remember in my dreams.' he said dreamily, listening for a response – but there was silence on her end. He knew she was still awake, 'Zar, please don't be angry. Padmé is –' he was interrupted by footsteps outside the door. 'Hold on' he told Ozara, taking out his lightsaber. 'Never mind, its just Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon returning.' he said with a smile on his face as the door to the apartment slid open revealing the two Jedi.
'Well, I'm tired, Anakin, so I'll get going.' his friend said on the other side.
'Oh? Okay, goodnight Ozara. Sweet dreams.' he replied, he could practically see her snuggling into her warm bed. It was somewhat humorous, and brought a smirk to his face.
'Goodnight, Anakin, stay safe.' she told him, and her mind was no longer active.
"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin would try that way." Obi-Wan said as he walked in.
"Any activity up here?" Qui-Gon asked, and Anakin shook his head in turn.
"Quiet as a tomb. I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her." the padawan stated as Obi-Wan withdrew a palm-sized view scanner from his utility belt.
"What's going on?" Obi-Wan asked as he looked at the scanner. Anakin looked over his shoulder, seeing what the knight was talking about. The shot showed R2 by the door, but there was no sign of Padmé or a bed.
Anakin shrugged, "Oh, she covered the cameras. I don't think she liked me watching her." he said.
"What is she thinking?" Obi-Wan replied, walking toward the door and tuning into the Force to see what was going on in the room. Padmé was asleep as far as he could tell.
"She programmed R2 to warn us if there is an intruder." Anakin retorted, "She'll be fine."
"You don't know that, Anakin. There are many ways to kill a senator, other than an intruder." Qui-Gon said, "Assassins are very clever when it comes to new and inventive ways to kill their targets. Intruders are a thing of the past."
"I know" Anakin replied, "But don't we want to catch this assassin, Master?"
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a look, "You're using her as bait" Obi-Wan pointed out.
"It was her idea" Anakin said defensively, "Don't worry, no harm will come to her – I can sense everything going on in that room. Trust me." The apprentice said assuredly.
Obi-Wan looked toward her bedroom door, "Its too risky, besides your senses aren't that attuned Anakin. You still have much to learn."
"They're tuned enough." Anakin retorted, "Besides, I think that it is our duty to protect her – catching the assassin is required. Isn't it?"
"Ah, so we get back to the conversation from earlier." Obi-Wan said, "We never did finish that."
Anakin sighed, "Yes, I'm sorry about that." he said, "I suppose I got too comfortable around her, and spoke my mind without checking to see if that was good or bad."
"It is better to stay silent, than make a grievous mistake by saying something which would only be bad in a situation." Obi-Wan said, "You have to be more careful, Anakin. You may know Padmé, but she is still a senator."
With a roll of his eyes, Anakin walked back onto the balcony. Obi-Wan went to another portion of the apartment, and Qui-Gon joined him.
"What were you up to while we were checking on security?" his master asked.
"Just meditating, Master. I apologized to Ozara, as you recommended." Anakin replied tersely.
"How is she?" Qui-Gon asked.
Anakin used this as an excuse to check her mind. He sneaked into it to see what she was dreaming about – her dreams were pleasant, with little children running around in the grass on Ergon while she watched. She smiled and started playing with them, her happiness evident. He smiled and withdrew from her mind, allowing her to sleep in peace. "She's sleeping." he answered.
"Thats good" Qui-Gon said, "I was worried about her earlier. She was hurt by your lack of friendliness. Which could be very bad."
"I know." Anakin replied, "She was somewhat agitated, but I think that everything is fine now."
Obi-Wan came back before Qui-Gon could reply. He looked at Anakin, "You look tired." he stated.
"I haven't slept well for a couple of days. The dreams about my mother have returned." he explained.
"Dreams pass in time" Obi-Wan answered, "But I suppose your mind will be at rest if you were to speak to her again."
Anakin looked at his master with a raised brow, "You told him?" he asked.
Qui-Gon nodded, "Yes, I thought he should know, Anakin. Secrets are not the way of the Jedi, and if the Council were to ask me, then I would say the same to them." he said. "Obi-Wan is right, it will probably help your dreams. Perhaps tomorrow we might contact your mother again, its been a month." he said.
Anakin smiled, "Thank you Master." he said with gratitude. "My dreams are worrisome. Anyways, I'd rather dream of Padmé" he said, walking back in, "Just being around her again is intoxicating."
"Be mindful of your thoughts, Anakin, they betray you. You have made a commitment to the Jedi Order, a commitment not easily broken. Don't forget she's a politician, and like I said earlier, they are not to be trusted." Obi-Wan said.
Anakin huffed, "What is it between you two? You are always saying that senators are bad, but you generalize too much. Even you said that Senator Peregrine, for instance, was a good man. You seem to like them. She's like him, she's different than the others in the senate."
It was Obi-Wan who replied, "It has been my experience that most Senators are only focused on pleasing those who fund their campaigns. And they are more than willing to forget the niceties of democracy to get those funds." he said with what sounded like disgust laced with propriety.
"Please, Obi, not another lecture on the economics of politics." Anakin pleaded.
"Nevertheless, Anakin," Qui-Gon started, "Even you must admit that many senators are crooked and deal in a way which only benefits themselves. We aren't generalizing, we are simply saying that most are the rule. Senator Peregrine is a very rare exception to the rule."
"Leiana, no doubt, you would say is an exception, and if Ozara became a senator you would call her an exception. We all know she would be an exception. But isn't it possible that Padmé and the Chancellor are just as much the exception as they are?" Anakin argued.
"Palpatine is a politician, and I've observed that he is very clever at following the passions and prejudices of his fellow Senators." Obi-Wan replied.
"Yet you wouldn't say that about Senator Peregrine. Besides, I think that the Chancellor is a good man. In fact my instincts are very positive about –" he looked stunned as he sharply turned his toward the door to Padmé's bedroom.
"I sense it too" Qui-Gon said, as they three of them ran to her aid. The door slid open, and Anakin – lightsaber in hand – leapt upto her bed, slicing the poisonous Kohuns from off her body with precision. Padmé woke, sitting up in surprise. Had it been any other situation, it would have been embarrassing. She demurely pulled her nightgown over her shoulder.
Obi-Wan looked around the room, trying to find out how they got in, when he looked at the window. A droid was outside the blinds, but sensing their presence, it began to disengage itself from the glass. In a flash, Obi-Wan raced toward it, crashing through the blinds and glass as he grabbed a hold of the fleeing droid.
The other Jedi looked toward where Obi-Wan had just disappeared through, looking at one another. "Anakin, go after him." Qui-Gon ordered, his padawan nodded, standing from Padmé's bed and running out as Dormé, Padmé's handmaiden ran in.
"Are you alright, M'Lady?" she asked, Padmé nodded, looking at Qui-Gon.
"Don't worry, Senator, everything is under control." he told her as she nodded dumbly. He walked out of the room, picking up his comlink, "Captain Typho, we have a problem. . ."