A/N: Continuing with the Clone Wars storylines, with a few minor changes for funsies.

Chapter Twenty-One – A Chaotic Festival.

"And there's a handwritten letter here from the people in…I can't read this…oh, the villages in the Gallo province. They say the limitations on their water rationing are becoming…uh, to be honest, M'lady, they haven't put it very politely. Needless to say, they're not happy."

Padmé nodded, pressing her fingertips to her eyes to try and bully her headache into submission. "Thank you, Jago, I've heard that from other sources too." Lowering her hands, she glanced back at the holo projections of her Theed correspondents. "I don't know what they think I can do about it, though," she said helplessly. "Every planet in the Republic is making financial sacrifices. These are the unfortunate results. I don't like it, but I have no solution."

Luma made a note on her data pad. "We'll try and explain that as sympathetically as possible, M'lady."

"Good. The least we can give them is sympathy." She checked her chrono. "Was there anything else?"

"Nothing that can't wait, M'lady," Jago assured her. "Everything is ready for your arrival here this evening."

Padmé managed a grateful smile. "Thank you. We'll be on our way as soon as today's session is over."

Luma spoke up with uncustomary self-consciousness. "Um…is our daughter still accompanying you?"

"Yes, of course. Why?"

"She demanded we stay away after the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Padmé nodded in understanding. "I'm sure that was just because she knew we'd be flying home for the festival. She probably didn't want you to have to come here just to go straight back."

Luma seemed slightly appeased. "We hoped that was the case. She's shut us out before, though." Appearing to sense Padmé's discomfort at being caught between Sabé and her parents, Luma added, "Well, we look forward to seeing you later, M'lady. Have a safe trip."

"Thank you, both."

They signed off. Padmé spent some time filing her notes, her heart sinking at the number of reports she had about insufficient supplies back home. Thank the gods that the Festival of Light was a relatively inexpensive event, one that brought hope and raised morale more than anything more material.

She summoned Moteé to bring her a cup of caf. She had a lot to sift through before they were due to leave for the Senate. Moteé brought the tray up right away. Padmé noticed she was looking a little pale and stressed, but chose to keep her thoughts to herself. They all had their own stresses these days.

"Have you seen Sabé?" she asked her, accepting the caf.

"She's in her room packing, M'lady," Moteé replied. "Shall I fetch her?"

"No, that's okay," Padmé said, wrapping her hands around the cup's warmth. "She needs to get that done. I'll speak to her later. Thank you, Moteé."

Moteé bowed and left her alone. Padmé reflected on her unhappy friend, hoping she was up to attending the festival. She'd asked to be kept busy, but asking her to attend a joyful occasion seemed cruel somehow. Still, she had to trust Sabé to know what she was capable of. She knew Anakin was dealing with his grief in the only way he knew how: chasing down those responsible for it. He'd told her what he was doing, adding that it was without the knowledge of the Jedi Council. Padmé wasn't sure what to think. Hunting down Rako Hardeen was hardly the wisest course of action, but Anakin had a keen sense of revenge. Justice, he called it, but she knew what it truly was. She was only glad that Ahsoka had gone with him.

Sabé's reaction to the news had been strange. She'd looked concerned, but if Padmé didn't know better, she could have sworn that the concern was not for Anakin but rather those he sought.

Sipping her caf, Padmé pulled her thoughts away from Anakin and Sabé. If she didn't get her work done, she'd never leave Coruscant on time.

Sabé was busy stuffing items into her suitcase when the com in her ear suddenly crackled. Startled, she dropped her make-up bag, spilling items all over the floor.

"Sabé? Are you there?" The voice was rasping, unfamiliar, speaking with the wrong accent, but she knew who it had to be.

"Yes! Yes, I'm here," she said at once, falling to her knees to pick up her cosmetics. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"Where are you?"

"Um…in the fresher, actually. It's the only place I can be alone."

She laughed at that, mostly in relief that he was still alive. "Gods. It's good to hear from you."

"Likewise," he said. "I don't have much time. We're on our way to Serreno, to meet with Count Dooku. I believe I'll need to prove my worth before they trust me with the plan for tomorrow."

"You're meeting with another Force user? Is that safe?"

"I'll be careful," he retorted at once. It was the only option, after all. "When are you heading to Naboo?"

"Tonight, after the Senate session," Sabé answered, reaching under the bed for a stray lipstick.

"I need you to scout out the location for me. I'm not going to have time to do it myself. Let me know if anything seems amiss."

"Will do," she promised. "Will you contact me?"

"When I can. I also need to speak to Master Windu, but that's a little more problematic."

"Why?"

"If they trace the signal somehow, there's no way I can explain contacting the Temple. But with you, I can simply say that I've been talking to my lover."

Sabé saw the sense in it, but she blushed a little at the thought of the truth of the statement.

"Fair enough," she said, keeping her voice level.

"I should go," he muttered. "You should be aware, Anakin knows I'm alive."

Sabé's eyes widened. "He does? Since when?"

"About half an hour ago. He'll be on his way back to Coruscant by now. No doubt he'll tell Padmé."

"Okay. Thanks for the warning."

"I'll talk to you when I can," he told her.

"All right. Be careful." She bit her lip, afraid for him.

"I will." With a faint crackle, he cut the channel.

Sabé sighed, still sitting on her bedroom floor, her cosmetics safely back in their bag. The fear was her constant shadow. She spent half of her time trying to ignore it, trying not to let it warp her imagination out of control. She knew she could easily think up multiple terrible situations that Obi-Wan might be facing.

Stop it, she told herself firmly, getting clumsily to her feet and depositing the make-up bag in the suitcase. She had hours to go before they left for Naboo. Until then, she just had to sit tight.

Padmé was picking up some data pads from her office at the Senate when Anakin burst into the room, making her jump.

"Gods, Anakin!" she exclaimed. "What's gotten into you?" She took in his expression of fury, her heart sinking. Turning to the others, she said calmly, "Could we have the room, please?"

The handmaidens nodded as one, heading for the door.

"Not Sabé," said Anakin brusquely.

Sabé halted, one eyebrow raised inquisitively. She said nothing, simply falling back as the others left, the door sliding shut behind them. Padmé wondered if her husband was there to tell them he'd killed Obi-Wan's murderer.

Anakin watched the door close, then turned to her, saying hurriedly, "He's alive. Obi-Wan's alive. He's undercover as Hardeen."

Padmé's face broke out into a wide smile. "That's wonderful!" she cried, beaming at Sabé.

Sabé smiled too, but it was more reserved. In that instant, Padmé realised that Sabé had known all along. Her smile faltered.

"Sabé?"

Sabé looked awkwardly guilty, meeting her gaze. "I…" She sighed. "I wasn't permitted to say anything."

Anakin rounded on her. "You knew?" he said incredulously.

"Yes, Anakin," she replied, her voice quiet. "They didn't want me to, Obi-Wan argued it."

"Why?" His question was as sharp and quick as a blade.

Wearily, she tried to explain it. "Obi-Wan felt it was his duty to inform me that I was still safe, seeing as his main assignment is to protect me."

"What about me?" Anakin yelled. "I'm supposed to be his best friend! He couldn't even let me know he was okay?"

Padmé stepped in, ever the peacemaker. "Our reactions must have been what sold the illusion."

Sabé nodded wordlessly.

Anakin turned his glowering gaze on her. "We could have faked it. If she could, then why not me?"

"The Jedi Council always has its reasons, Anakin," Padmé told him softly.

"They don't trust me," he barked, jabbing a finger in Sabé's direction, "but they trust her? How can you even think that's right?"

Sabé raised her eyebrows, looking mildly affronted, and Padmé fixed him with a frown.

Fractionally calming, Anakin glanced back at Sabé. "Look, no offence," he said ineptly. "But…the way they treat me isn't fair."

"But Padmé is right," Sabé said coolly, "they do have their reasons. Do you have any idea how unwilling they were to let me know? If Obi-Wan wasn't so duty-bound, they would never–"

"Ugh, it doesn't matter," Anakin interrupted, throwing up his hands. "I just wanted to tell you both not to worry, but it seems I'm two days too late. If you'll excuse me, I have to speak to the Council."

Padmé inwardly sighed, placing her palms flat on her desk. "I'll see you on Naboo," she said to his back, "when you escort the Chancellor."

"Yeah," he muttered. "See you then." The door slid closed behind him.

Padmé pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a long breath. "This can't go on," she murmured. "We meet five times, we argue for three of them."

Sabé said nothing. Padmé knew her opinion anyway. It would do no good to hear it repeated.

"I understand why you couldn't say anything," she told her friend. "I don't like it, but I understand it."

"I didn't like it either," Sabé assured her. "And that's an understatement. But…it was necessary."

Padmé nodded. That was life, especially in war time.

"Come on, we've got a ship to catch," she said. "Let's just hope that whatever Obi-Wan is doing pays off."

Sabé slipped away from the others once they reached Theed, keen to check out the place where the festival would be held. It was a circular outdoor stage not far from the small temple in the palace grounds. It was most often used for open air plays for the amusement of the reigning monarch, or medal presentations for the security forces. In the light of day, devoid of people and props, it seemed fairly harmless. But it was also open and exposed, and like all outdoor locations, a nightmare for the security team.

The com in her right ear buzzed.

"Typho to Sabé, do you copy?"

"Sabé here," she answered.

"Where are you?" He sounded exasperated.

"Just checking out the stage for tomorrow," she said honestly. "Why?"

"Your parents are looking for you."

Sabé rolled her eyes. "Of course they are. I'll be right there. Just…charm them or something."

Gregar gave a snort. "Yeah right. Just get your ass back here pronto."

"Will do," she promised. "And the rest of me too."

"Typho out."

Sabé searched the multitude of windows and balconies that looked down on the stage, frowning to herself. A security shield for the main area was all very well, but still it was vulnerable. Shields could be deactivated, after all.

She sighed, beginning the walk back. As usual, the com in her left ear remained silent.

The following day passed agonisingly slowly. The Chancellor arrived in the early afternoon, accompanied by Anakin, Ahsoka, and Mace Windu. Anakin was still stony-faced, but he seemed calmer, something for which they were all grateful. Sabé stood diligently on duty throughout the day, waiting for Obi-Wan to contact her, but there was nothing.

Two hours before the start of the festival, she was starting to get anxious. And then, mercifully, her com gave a subtle beep.

Bending to whisper in Padmé's ear, she excused herself and left the formal gathering of Queen Neeyutnee's guests. Once safely alone, she activated the com.

"Yes?" she said breathlessly, jogging down the palace corridors.

"Hi, dollface," came Rako Hardeen's drawl.

Her surprise slowed her down for a moment. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wanted you to know that I'm finishing up a job. Should be home by tomorrow."

Figuring out what Obi-Wan was doing, she said, "Is that relevant?" She gave him a moment to reply, then added, "Or are you just selling the illusion?"

"Yeah," he answered at once. "Can't wait to see you either. Did you get that thing I asked for?"

"Yes. It's a horrible location to cover, but there should be plenty of guards around."

"You're the best."

She couldn't help but smile at the bizarre conversation. It was difficult to imagine Obi-Wan saying any of it. "Are you being listened to?" she asked.

"Not sure yet."

"Any way you can tell me the plan?"

"I can't do that, baby," he said, sounding disappointed.

Sabé wrinkled her nose at the term of endearment. It sounded all wrong.

"I wish you were here too," he went on. "I got a pretty great view right now, but you'd definitely improve things."

"Okay," she surmised, thinking quickly, "so…you're somewhere overlooking the plaza?"

"Definitely."

"Any more help would be appreciated," she told him. "There are a dozen places where you could be."

His voice took on a playful tone. "Aww come on, you can't distract me like that. I got a job to do, can't have some goddess taking my mind off it, can I?"

"You're in the temple?" she guessed, hearing the way he subtly stressed the key words.

"Nah, it would be the opposite to that."

Grinning, Sabé said, "You're in the tower opposite the temple."

"Yeah."

"I'm on my way."

"Look, I gotta go, doll. We'll catch up when I get back, okay?"

"All right, don't overdo it," she scolded lightly as she ran.

"You too. Bye."

Unsure exactly where Eval's men might be, Sabé slipped into the first secret passage she came to, taking the dusty, labyrinthine paths up to the tower. There was nowhere that the network of tunnels did not go, and she was thankful for her extensive knowledge of them. She emerged at the bottom of the stairs, racing up them two at a time. Obi-Wan was waiting for her outside the topmost room. For a split second she was startled, having almost forgotten what he looked like. He put a finger to his lips before she could say a word, beckoning her closer. He moved until they were toe to toe, and she looked at him with startled eyes, wondering if his play acting on the com had gone to his head. Pushing back her hood, he leaned forward as if to kiss her neck and she felt her heartbeat speed up, her mouth going dry. He may look different, but he was still Obi-Wan Kenobi, and she couldn't help noticing that he smelled the same.

His breath was warm on her skin as he whispered in her ear, so softly it barely qualified as a whisper. "I might be bugged. I don't want to take any chances."

Sabé nodded.

"There are six of us, including Eval," he went on. "He's the getaway driver. The others are in charge of deactivating the shield and kidnapping the Chancellor."

"What about you?" she breathed.

"I'm tasked with immobilising the Chancellor with a stun round. Three of the bounty hunters are armed with holographic disguises. They'll appear as Senate guards. Get to Mace Windu, let him know to double check everyone's identity. And keep an eye on the shield generator. I'm not sure it would be wise for me to break cover even at this point."

"Consider it done."

"Above all, bear in mind that Dooku is here somewhere," he told her, breath tickling her neck. "He's due to meet us at a rendezvous point after we have the Chancellor, but the devices we've been given won't tell us where until the right moment."

Sabé nodded again. "I'll tell Master Windu."

She felt him nod in return. "Good luck."

"You too," she said, smiling impishly as she added, "…dollface."

He drew back to send her an unamused look. She simply smirked benevolently, raising her eyebrows. She trotted back down the stairs, darting through the passages back to where she'd left Padmé. Anakin had assigned Ahsoka as the senator's personal bodyguard, and the Togruta teenager had been following them around all afternoon.

The Queen's guests were engaging in an informal drinks party when she reached them, so nobody really noticed as she entered the room at a jog, skidding to a halt at Padmé's side.

"There you are!" her friend said, bemused. "Where have you been?"

"Doesn't matter," Sabé panted, turning to Ahsoka. "Padawan Tano, do you know where I can find Master Windu?"

"Last I heard he was scoping out the stage," Ahsoka replied, looking at her curiously.

"Sabé, what are you up to?" Padmé addressed her sternly.

"Don't ask. I'll be back." She took off again, passing Luma on her way out the door.

"Syrena!"

"Not now, Mother."

She found Mace Windu giving orders to the guards, and she slowed to a walk before she approached him.

"Can I help you, Lady Sabé?" he asked, his countenance its usual mixture of sternness and cool detachment, coupled with the faint air of distrust that she often picked up from him.

"No," she said lightly, ignoring it, "but I can help you. Might I have a word?"

Waving the guards away, he led her over to the railing looking out over the waterfall and forest, far below.

In a low voice, she relayed everything Obi-Wan had said, making sure to include his reasoning for not contacting the Jedi directly. Windu took it all in with a keen expression.

"Okay," he said when she was finished. "Leave it with me. Let me know if he contacts you again."

"Of course." She dipped him a quick bow before heading back inside. As she crossed the plaza, she could not help flicking her eyes up at the tower where she knew Obi-Wan was waiting, knowing that her hood would shade her face from any observers. She couldn't see anything amiss, but she felt sure his gaze was on her all the same.

Her other com beeped again, demanding attention.

"Sabé here," she answered.

"This is Typho. Where–"

"I'm coming back now," she cut him off wearily.

"Sabé, what are you doing?"

"Gregar," she said in a warning tone, "you know better than to ask that kind of question, considering."

She knew he'd understand her cryptic words, especially now that he was updated on the basics of Obi-Wan's mission.

"Right," she heard him sigh.

"I'm behind you," she said, signing off, seeing him standing in the doorway ahead of her.

He turned, throwing his arms up in a kind of helpless gesture. "Should I be worried?" he asked her as she drew closer.

"No."

"You sound very sure."

"Padmé isn't the target," she reminded him. "And I'm not involved in any plan, I'm just…the messenger."

Shrugging, looking as if he was giving up, he moved to go back inside. "Well, come on then, messenger. You're supposed to be on duty."

"Yes…sorry."

As they walked through the corridors, he hissed at her, "Is he okay?"

Shooting him a sidelong glance, she nodded. "For now."

Darkness fell within the hour, and soon Queen Neeyutnee and Chancellor Palpatine were leading the procession of dignitaries outside to the plaza. Padmé walked with Bail Organa and Governor Sio Bibble, their respective retinues following on behind. Everyone took their places on the tiered seats around the perimeter of the stage. The Chancellor walked to the podium in the centre, looking a curious mix of stubborn, confident, and a touch wary.

Once everyone was settled, the ray shield was activated, a smooth, transparent blue bubble encasing everyone inside the circle of the stage. Sabé noted the position of the Jedi and the guards, a combination of personnel from the palace and the Senate. Annoyingly, from her seat behind Padmé, she had her back to Obi-Wan. She had managed to find a moment to inform Padmé that she might have to take off, and her friend had simply rolled her eyes before agreeing.

"It is an honour to be here on this momentous occasion," Palpatine began, drawing her attention.

Temporary platforms full of guests hovered on the outside of the ray shield, a guard or two spaced among them.

"The pride I feel for this planet cannot be put into words. Eight-hundred and forty-seven years ago, Naboo joined the Republic, and tonight we celebrate that union."

The audience clapped, and Sabé automatically joined in, keeping her eyes peeled.

"Take a moment and look around this glorious city of yours," the Chancellor continued. "It wasn't long ago this was all plasma mines. Naboo has indeed come a long way. But as we chart a bold course for the future, let us never forget our past!"

Tapping a few switches on the podium, the Chancellor turned to the sky, arms raised. Fireworks split the night asunder, filling the area with coloured light while ceremonial music played. All heads looked upwards, except, Sabé noted, the Jedi, most of the guards, and her.

"Sabé," came Obi-Wan's false voice in her ear. "East side! The security guard on the stairs!"

Sabé leapt to her feet, drawing an annoyed cry from the man behind her. "Anakin!" she yelled. "The shield generator!"

At her words, he shot into action, running across the plaza towards the bounty hunter who was somehow managing to reach an arm through the ray shield. With a yank of wires, he rendered it useless and it exploded, knocking Anakin and Palpatine off their feet. The shield fizzled out. As one, the audience got to their feet, gasping and talking amongst themselves. Mace Windu rushed to the fallen Chancellor, giving orders to the guards, while Ahsoka directed the Queen and the dignitaries to safety.

"Sabé, go with them," Obi-Wan ordered her, evidently seeing her hesitate. "I'll speak directly to Mace."

Biting down her instinct to argue, Sabé agreed, knowing she was doing so purely to give him peace of mind. She picked up her skirts and hurried after Padmé and the others. Ahsoka barricaded them into the room they'd been socialising in beforehand, lightsabers poised but not activated. Sabé was the last one in, and Padmé, Gregar and her parents looked pleased to see her there.

Ahsoka studied her with an appraising look that made her seem older than her years. "You've been in contact with Obi-Wan, haven't you?" she said. "That's why you called to Anakin."

"Yes," Sabé admitted. "He thought contacting me would be easier to explain away if he got caught. I could have played the part of Rako Hardeen's girlfriend."

Ahsoka nodded thoughtfully. "He can always be counted on to think three steps ahead."

Jago broke through the crowd, Luma at his side. "Syrena," he said tiredly, "do you want to explain exactly what is going on?"

Realising that she really couldn't escape it this time, Sabé reluctantly nodded. "All right, all right."

Bone tired and utterly fed up of life as Rako Hardeen, Obi-Wan was grateful to escort Chancellor Palpatine back to the palace with Anakin and Mace. He was greeted by a sea of familiar faces when they got there: Queen Neeyutnee, Sio Bibble, Jar Jar Binks, Bail Organa, Jago, Luma, Gregar, Padmé, Moteé, Teckla, Ahsoka. They all blurred before him, but for one that stood out: Sabé, hovering behind Padmé, looking as if she was trying very hard to temper her relief at seeing him unhurt.

He wanted nothing more than to sleep, to spend some time alone without looking over his shoulder, but the Queen insisted on all the Jedi joining them for dinner so she could hear their story. Of course, he was the one doing most of the telling. Anakin glared his way through a lot of it, but there was more understanding in his expression than Obi-Wan would have expected. No doubt he'd vented his annoyance at being left out already.

"The bounty hunters were evidently expecting Count Dooku to show up," Mace Windu was saying, now that they had reached the point in the story where he could step in. "He didn't. We assume he got a tip-off and fled."

"That probably happened when I compromised my cover," Obi-Wan surmised. "It seemed a wise decision at the time."

"I certainly cannot argue with the results, Master Kenobi," Chancellor Palpatine put in.

Obi-Wan acknowledged his words with a bow of his head. His eyes sought Sabé's. She stood at the sidelines with Moteé and Teckla, beside five silent handmaidens of the Queen's. She offered him a tiny smile, her expression seeming to indicate that she was sympathetic to how he was feeling.

He took a sip of wine, feeling it pass uncomfortably over the vocal emulator in his throat. He really needed to take it out, but there hadn't been an opportunity so far. It wasn't something one could do at the dinner table, especially in the presence of royalty.

The rest of the evening passed by at a steady, if not exactly fast, pace, and Obi-Wan found himself finally being escorted to a guest room. His first course of action was to extract the emulator, trying not to gag as it crawled its way up and out of his mouth. He cleared his throat, speaking a few words aloud to adjust.

Sitting gratefully down on the bed, he thought of Sabé and how they had barely been able to exchange two words to each other since the kidnap attempt. He found he very much wanted to speak to her, to let her ground him, to let her remind him that he could be himself again. It had been a very long three days. He'd sensed some traces of unease from the guests at dinner. Clearly it was surreal for them to see someone else in his place, to hear his words from someone else's voice. Sabé had never stopped seeing him as him, once she'd got over the initial shock. He'd sensed her reaction when he'd whispered the plan to her. It had been unwise to move so close to her, considering, but he'd had no choice. Sabé was a consummate professional, of course, but she was still human. She'd reacted to his proximity despite his disguise.

He remembered the scent of her hair, the fresh fragrance of her shampoo, and the warmth of her cheek almost touching his. He'd heard her soft intake of breath as he drew closer. He'd put it out of his mind. It was safer that way.

Your thoughts betray you, he told himself, as he'd once told Anakin.

Obi-Wan recalled his answer to Satine when she'd asked him that loaded question. "Do you love her?" "I don't know." He suspected that truthfully, deep down, the answer to that question was becoming more definite. He'd been falling for some time, deeper than he could have imagined.

You're such a hypocrite, Kenobi.

He sensed a discomforting ripple in the Force, as if it didn't like him berating himself. That was confusing, to say the least, since he'd thought he was trying to abide by the Code. Closing his eyes, he reached out to it, feeling it swirling around him like dust particles glistening in sunlight.

I don't understand. Please show me what you want from me.

There was no definitive answer, of course. The Force didn't work that way. Obi-Wan hoped that the truth would come to him in time. And in the meantime...he still wanted to talk to Sabé. With a burst of inspiration, he remembered the com in his ear, patching it to her frequency.

Within a few moments, she answered. "Obi-Wan? Gods, you scared me. Somehow I'd forgotten I was still wearing this thing. Not sure how, it's hardly comfortable."

He chuckled. "I'm sorry to alarm you."

"Oh, it's good to hear your voice," she exclaimed.

He could picture her smile. "It's good to have it back. Vocal emulators are not fun."

"I can imagine," she said with feeling. "Handy tech, though. I wish we'd had them back in the decoy days."

"Your mimicry was perfect," he complimented her warmly.

"Why thank you," she replied, her tone playful despite the formal-sounding words. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

"I wanted to talk to you," he told her truthfully. "I didn't think it would be appropriate to sneak in and do so in person."

She laughed. "I love that you think of propriety after we've been married all this time."

"You know what I mean," he grumbled, although he was not really annoyed.

"I do," she admitted, still sounding amused. "Are you okay?"

He took a breath, thinking back over everything he'd been through, everything he'd had to do to maintain his cover. "Yes, I think so."

"Good," Sabé said simply. He suspected she felt it more keenly than the single word implied.

"How about you?" he asked. "You heard about my exploits over dinner but I haven't heard yours."

"Not sure 'exploits' is the right word," she ruminated. "But I do have a few things to report."

In a worried tone, she told him how she and Teckla had met a strange woman outside the Senate, which now led herself and Gregar to suspect Moteé of lying about something. She explained about the latest murder, which had occurred the same day, and Daedrin's alibi, sounding exasperated that the Jedi Council still hadn't done anything to stop him. Obi-Wan understood her frustration, but the situation was delicate. Daedrin was a favourite of Palpatine's, and the relationship between the Chancellor and the Jedi was tenuous at best. The Republic needed the Jedi as much as it needed the Chancellor, and it needed them to work together. There was more at stake than just the lives of the Order of Sanctuary, however harsh it seemed. Sabé grasped that, he knew, but the losses pained her all the same.

"How did this woman react when you mentioned that she was supposed to have an incurable illness?" he asked.

"She was…embarrassed," Sabé told him. "Awkward, saddened. A…normal reaction, I guess. If it were me, I wouldn't want to talk about it with strangers either."

Curious, he said, "What does your instinct tell you?"

Sabé paused for a moment, apparently considering her answer. "Moteé is hiding something. But…whether it's this? I don't know. We could be jumping to conclusions because we want answers."

"Have you talked to her?"

"No," she replied at once. "Things kicked off, there was no time."

"Hmm. Well, I suppose it will keep until we get back."

"Yes," Sabé agreed. After a brief silence, she changed the subject. "So, when are you becoming you again?"

"When we get back to the Temple," Obi-Wan said, running a hand over his bald head. "I'm looking forward to it, I must admit. Being a criminal is exhausting."

"Yes, and I'm not sure about that tattoo."

"Oh, really?" He dropped a touch of regret into his tone. "I was thinking about getting it done when I'm back to normal."

"Well," she said, sounding disapproving, "good luck explaining that one to the Council."

He let out a short laugh. "Lady Sabé, I'm disappointed at your lack of faith in me."

"Master Kenobi, you mistake me," she retorted, her smile evident in her voice. "You are the Negotiator, after all, and that takes a lot of skill, does it not? Dollface."

He groaned. "Are you ever going to let that go?"

"No," she said succinctly, sounding rather pleased with herself, "no, I'm not."

Obi-Wan sighed, but he was smiling. "Just be thankful," he told her. "There are many names a lot worse than that one."

"That's a good point," she conceded.

He heard her stifle a yawn. "Get some sleep," he said. "I'll see you in the morning."

She yielded without argument. "Okay. Same goes for you."

"Good night. And thank you for your help."

"You're welcome," she said warmly. "Good night."

Obi-Wan signed off, pulling the com from his ear. In the sudden silence, it was difficult not to dwell on how much the conversation had improved his mood.

That's what friends do, he reminded himself.

But he knew that Sabé was more than that. She would always be more than that.

A/N: I've never entirely understood why Bail Organa was present at a Naboo festival, but I wouldn't begrudge him an evening out. Also, in the original episode, Obi-Wan maintains the vocal emulator until the end, even though a lot of time has passed and he doesn't need it anymore. I thought I'd make it more comfortable for him.