Disclaimer: I bet you think you know whats coming... I don't own Star Wars, I didn't invent it, blah blah blah. Actually, I give you credit for being smart enough to know that Star Wars was not invented by some pathetic teenage girl with too much time on her hands, and a good education which she is using for something which her parents would not approve of. Oh yes, I feel proud. . .
The Retreat was just as beautiful as Padmé had described to Ozara, the lake reminding her of one of the lakes on Ergon. Lake Eresea, the largest lake which the Narrows flowed into. Many of the important people on Ergon lived near the lake, enjoying the views and the beaches. The Nabooian lake was gorgeous, making her slightly homesick.
Her happy reminiscence was disturbed, however, when she noticed that Padmé and Anakin were leaning over the balustrade. She was looking at the scenery of the lake and beyond, while Anakin was focused more on the scenery of her exposed back. Ozara growled under her breath, moving closer to them – more to keep them in line than anything else. Why a woman would pick a dress like that, when Anakin was so obviously enamored with her, and then pretend as if she wasn't interested. . .it was confusing, and irritating all at once. How Leiana could stand this woman for more than a few hours was shocking, she'd have to give her sister a gold medal and a punch in the arm for being so tolerant.
"When I was in Level Three, we used to come here for school retreat. See that island? We used to swim there every day. I love the water." Padmé told the young man beside her.
"I do too. I guess it comes from growing up on a desert planet." Anakin replied. Ozara rolled her eyes, 'My dear friend, I only wish you could see yourself from my point of view.' She said in her mind, almost wishing that this time he was looking. But from the look on his face, he was completely in his own thoughts.
"We used to lie on the sand and let the sun dry us." Padmé continued, pretending to be unaware of his attention to her exposed skin. "Try to guess the names of the birds singing." Ozara shook her head, this was beginning to get unbearable.
"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere." Ozara chuckled softly at Anakin's description of the one thing she had found out long ago that he hated. "Not like here. Here everything's soft. . .and smooth." Ozara's eyes widened as he touched Padmé's arm, and she allowed it!
"There was a very old man who lived on the island. He used to make glass out of sand - and vases and necklaces out of the glass. They were magical." Padmé said as Anakin nonchalantly stroked her arm.
"Everything here is magical." he said softly, Ozara made to move toward them, but stopped herself.
"You could look into the glass and see the water. The way it ripples and moves. It looked so real – but it wasn't." she heard her rival say.
"Sometimes, when you believe something to be real, it becomes real." Anakin replied, looking at Padmé as if she was the only thing that existed in the galaxy.
"I used to think if you looked too deeply into glass, you would lose yourself."
"I think its true." Anakin replied as they moved closer.
Unable to watch anymore, Ozara turned around and went into the gardens, trying to clear her mind of what she had observed. Perhaps everything was for the best. What Anakin and Padmé did was their own affair – it would destroy him, but if she did anything to separate them he might hate her for all eternity. Padmé was who he wanted, he made it clear. But there was something wrong, Ozara knew it, Padmé seemed all too willing. Didn't she know that by encouraging this she would destroy him?
Sitting down on a nearby bench, Ozara wished – for the first time – that Skandar were there to cheer her up. At least he wasn't as confusing.
Qui-Gon moved about the facility on Kamino in awe. All this had been done without the Jedi Council's knowledge – apparently at the request of a main member of the Council. Yet for ten years, this request had been kept a secret. . .but why?
"Magnificent, aren't they?" Lama Su asked with pride as he motioned to the thousands of clones who were doing drills. "We take great pride in our combat education and training programs. This group was created about five years ago." he said, motioning to a group of identical looking boys in a classroom.
"Yes, quite." Qui-Gon answered, "I was surprised that after only ten years you were able to create such an army. You mentioned growth acceleration?"
"Oh yes, it's essential. Otherwise, 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 Sifo-Dyas first placed the order, and they're already mature. I hope that your Jedi Council will not wait any longer, for these clones are more than ready for action." Lama Su said.
"I'm sure that the Council will make its own decisions on when we will be requiring the use of the clones. As of now, we are not yet at war." Qui-Gon said.
"Of course." Lama Su replied, conducting Qui-Gon to a platform which showed hundreds of look-alike 20 year old clones sitting down to eat. "You'll find they are totally obedient, taking any order without question. We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host." the Prime Minister explained.
"Oh? And who was the original host?" Qui-Gon asked.
"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett." the Kaminoan replied, "We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sifo-Dyas hand-picked Jango Fett himself."
"Where is he now?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Oh, we keep him here." Lama Su replied. The tour continued, showing the clones in various activities: sleeping, learning, eating, and marching. "Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing – an unaltered clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?" Lama Su said.
"Unaltered?" Qui-Gon repeated for clarity's sake.
"Yes, pure genetic replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile, and no growth acceleration. Almost like a son, as that is how he is treated. Boba Fett, Jango named him." Lama Su explained.
"I would very much like to meet this Jango Fett, is that at all possible?" Qui-Gon asked.
"I would be most happy to arrange that for you" Taun We said from beside him.
"Excellent." Qui-Gon replied, biding his time until he could send out another communique. . .he needed to ask Obi-Wan just what that bounty hunter looked like.
Obi-Wan stood on the balcony of the Peregrines apartment, looking out on the city below. He had just received a communication from Qui-Gon, asking him the smallest and minute details of his encounter with the bounty hunter who killed the assassin.
"I think I might have found him," Qui-Gon had said, "He's here on Kamino – if it is the same person – I'll be meeting with him later, and must know all that you can tell me. All that you can remember, I must know."
The Jedi Knight recounted the bounty hunter as best he could, remembering the jet pack and the silver and blue armor.
"Thank you Obi-Wan, that's all I need. I'll contact you later, if it is the same fellow."
"May the Force be with you Master." Obi-Wan said.
"May the Force be with you." and with that, Qui-Gon's holoimage disappeared.
The city was bustling with activity; not that, that was unusual though.
"What's troubling you, Obi?" Leiana asked from behind him, "Has Qui-Gon found that bounty hunter yet?"
Obi-Wan looked at his holocommunicator, "He thinks so. He probably has, seeing as that data was destroyed from the archives – I wouldn't be surprised. There are simply too many strange occurrences to chalk everything up to coincidence." he said.
Leiana placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Do you wish you were with him?" she asked softly.
With a chuckle, Obi-Wan turned to face her. "No, I don't like places like Kamino. And although my mind is very good with analysis of information, I don't think I'd be able to do what he is doing." he said.
"I don't think so, you underestimate yourself Obi-Wan. You oughtn't do that." Leiana replied, stepping beside him. "How do you think that Anakin and Ozara are getting along?"
"How do you think? Last time they got along so well, that they found they both had a common hankering for trouble." Obi-Wan said with a laugh, "I'm sure they're doing well. They care about each other immensely."
"I know. You should have heard her over the last ten years, its all 'Anakin this,' and 'Anakin that'. If he wasn't a Jedi I would be sure that she would marry him, or at least strive to." Leiana said.
"If he wasn't a Jedi, I wouldn't be too surprised if he agreed with her and jumped at the chance." Obi-Wan said with a faraway look.
"Do you think that many Jedi wish that the Jedi Code was different in the matter of love?" Leiana asked, "Do you, perhaps?"
"Me?" Obi-Wan repeated, "No, I don't think so. Although, I'm not sure. I have lived under the code the thirty years, and I haven't questioned it yet. If it were different, I don't know if I'd question it then either." he said, "And as for other Jedi, I think the younger ones – like Anakin – do regret the fact that the Code denies love. They feel that they're missing out on something."
"Maybe it shouldn't" Leiana said.
He looked at her but did not challenge her statement, instead answering with: "Maybe we shouldn't start playing with 'maybes.'" She smiled and raised her hands in defeat, both of them laughing at their statements. "Jedi do, however, form attachments despite the Code." Obi-Wan continued, "But it usually ends in disaster. The loved ones usually die, leaving the Jedi embittered and nearly driven to the Dark Side."
"Is it not better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?" Leiana asked, "If you love someone, and they love you, and they die – you may be overcome with grief for a time, but your love for them carries on until your death." Obi-Wan looked at her attentively, "It may temporarily drive you to anger, as it is only natural, which if you continue it will destroy you. But if you live your entire life in the fear of love, because something might happen to that person, then you are fulfilling out your own prophecy. I would rather love someone, even if they died, than live my life without love." she said, "But my beliefs are my own."
"And noble beliefs they are, Leiana. Just not for Jedi." Obi-Wan said quietly. She shrugged.
"Perhaps not." she said dejectedly, their conversation interrupted by Marilu and Marius's arguing over a datapad in the great room. Leiana sighed, and with a fleeting glance at Obi-Wan, went to resolve the matter.
Obi-Wan remained on the balcony. He had never questioned the Jedi Code – but he had to admit, the senatorial part of Leiana had a good argument. He turned to watch her deal with the children, watching as she negotiated between the two.
"Obi-Wan, help me please" Leiana pleaded as Marius was getting a little out of hand. With a chuckle, he moved into the room taking the young boy away from his sister.
"Alright, little one that's enough." he said, watching as she gave him a look of gratitude. And Obi-Wan allowed himself – just this once – to question the Code's idea on love and matrimony.
"Ozara?" Anakin's voice broke through her clouded thoughts. She had no idea how long she'd been looking out on the lake, but it had to be a couple of hours, the sun was high in the sky. "Ozara where are you?" she heard him say from around one of the bushes.
"Over here, Anakin." she replied. Calling him over to where she sat, he soon rounded the corner and sat beside her.
"You've been gone for two hours, Zar! What's wrong?" he asked.
She turned to him, fully prepared to tell him her mind – but refrained from doing so, "I'm seeing a pattern. You are constantly thinking that I'm in a state of unhappiness." she said softly, "I'm fine Anakin. The Lake affected me is all. It reminded of Lake Eresea, you remember it?"
"The Lake on Ergon? Yeah, sure I remember. So you're homesick?" he asked.
"Yeah, a little." she replied, keeping the truth from him by omission. Anakin sighed.
"That doesn't explain earlier." he said, "I just don't understand what's wrong with you? One moment you're happy and joking, the next you're quiet, and sullen. I don't understand – and don't tell me you're homesick, because I don't believe that." he said sternly. "I thought you said you don't keep secrets from me."
"I don't, normally. Its just – with this, I can't tell you, Anakin." she told him.
"Can't or won't?" he asked in irritation.
"Won't."
"Why not?"
"Because even if I told you, you wouldn't understand." she said quietly.
"Anakin? Ozara?" they heard Padmé calling.
Anakin looked up, "Coming!" he called back, his earlier agitation with Ozara evident in his voice. He stood, "Well?"
"You go along, I'll be there in a minute." Ozara replied, watching as Anakin huffed and stomped off. His attitude only seemed to cement in her mind that she was doing the right thing.
With resignation, she stood and followed him into the building.