Author's Notes: All smiles! Over 200 reviews:) :) :) This is fun! Now...to answer those reviews...
LJSkywalker: Of course they are. It's like their trademark! Yeah, well Padme and Kavar's date doesn't turn out so well.
Jedi X-Man Serena Kenobi: So glad to hear that! Oh-ho-ho-ho! You actually...wow...you caught that early on! Good for you. About the 'hooded figure' I mean. I tried to keep it a secret...but looks like it's known to a reviewer! Thanks for reviewing!
Just Jill: LOL! Yeah, I probably should've written something like that...but...I wanted her to show a little respect for the Knight Terrill first.
JediMan: Thank you so much for your criticism! I greatly needed that! I know that Senator Amidala's characteristics are way out of whack...but...there's a reason for that. Whenever Keira came into existence in the Star Wars world, just her being there changed everything...including the way people acted...well, mostly. For your pleasure and others, I will try to capture Amidala's characteristic a bit more, just to keep the reviewers reviewing and the readers to keep reading. The reason why the Council scene was so lacking in words (I know that's not a word...but...oh well), was because my Dad kept begging me to get off the internet. I had to condense it...a little. But...that will not happen again. I promise. I will try to do most of my updates before he gets home. Thank you once again for the criticism! Erm...about Ferus being a spy or agent for Kavar...erm...once again...not really. He isn't a spy or agent...sorry. But...something does happen to him later. Thank you for your review...your criticism...and your help! Thank you!
The Most Humble and Obedient Author: I'm so happy you're happy! It makes me smile:) :) :) Please...continue reading! And uh...sorry...can't tell you my age. It's against our internet rules at home. Sorry. Thanks for the review anyways though!
Captain Jade Sparrow: Ha ha ha ha! She could definitely put that room to good use too. Thanks for the review! They're always appreciated.
Kenobifan: Yeah, Shioth is pretty stupid. Hope you have good luck with your errands. Thanks for the wonderful review!
DarthGladiator45: Yes...there will be more bantering to come. I'm glad this story is shaping up to be one of your favorites. I hope this chapter appeals to you. Mmm...I made Peanut Butter cookies...from scratch. Mmmm...my friends and relatives love them.
gatermage: Yes, Obi-Wan and Anakin will be in even more trouble in the next chapter, Keira has been found out even more in this one, and Kavar has just ruined his wooing. I don't know when they'll speak to each other again. :P Glad you liked the story. Thanks for the review:) :)
Author's Notes: I hope you will enjoy this chapter. The first part of this chapter starts off kind of intense...but it lightens up towards the end. Hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 25
Of Killing and Smuggling
Padme was sitting at the table with Kavar at the La' Chandelires restaurant. Her handmaidens had been thrilled about this little...date. They said Padme needed a life besides politics. This was just the chance the handmaidens knew she should be jumping for.
"You won't embarass him now will you?" Sabe had asked her before hand.
"Sabe...how can I embarass him?" Padme asked.
"Well, after this date-"
"Sabe, I didn't mean to say...date over the comlink," Padme sighed. "It was...just a mistake."
"Oh sure...give your excuses," Sabe giggled. "You like him...don't you?"
"Sabe..."
Padme didn't know what to think now. In the back of her mind she was saying, 'yes, I like him', but now she wasn't so sure. She had spoken to him for a while at the dinner table, but now...there seemed to be nothing that either of them could think of to say. He was quiet, and distant.
"I hear your Uncle has been doing some marvelous work with the Creation Act project. If and when you see him, please tell him that he has my thanks," Padme said.
Kavar nodded. "His loyalty towards you shall never be broken," Kavar said with a smile.
They then both were silent again. This time, longer. Finally Padme spoke up again.
"Kavar, is there something wrong?" Padme asked.
Kavar looked at her and shook his head. "No, I just have had a lot on my mind lately."
Padmelooked as his dark and rich eyes. "Would you like to talk about it?" she asked.
Kavar sighed and looked at her. "Not really," he said.
Padme saw a flash of anger cross his face.
"You're angry about something," she said, not really asking, just stating.
"So what is it to you if I am?" he asked cooly.
She was taken aback. "Kavar..."
"No, no...it's just...tonight isn't going as well as I had planned," Kavar sighed.
"Why, what did you have planned?" she asked.
"Just a nice dinner out...but it's turned...I don't know...something's going to happen...," he sighed.
She looked at him for a moment.
"Why did you invite me to dinner?" she asked.
He looked at her. "I-I wanted to get to know you a little better," he said hesitantly.
She looked at him. "So do I," she said.
Suddenly, two figures walked through the front door to the restaurant. They were Duronian. They stopped at the front of the restaurant, grabbed two pistols from holsters around their sides, and began shooting, directly at Padme.
"Run!" Kavar shouted, grabbing her arm as he saw them. Kavar, still holding her arm, and running at the same time, took her to the back of the restaurant.
They passed several miffed cooks on the way to the back. Finally, when Kavar found a good place for Padme to hide, he told her to stay there.
"Where are you going?" she asked him.
"Stay there, milady!" Kavar said sternly.
Milady? Padme thought.
Padme lifted up her dress that she was wearing, and removed the blaster pistol from the holster on her thigh. She would be prepared for anything.
She heard a few screams and before she knew it, there were two Duronians trying to kill Kavar.
"Kavar!" she screamed, before she threw him the blaster pistol, which he caught with much ease.
He then fought off the Duronians, and fired point-blank blaster shots at the two Duronians heads.
They both fell to the ground.
Padme shrieked before seeing the two bloody bodies on the floor. They were both alive...barely.
Kavar's nostrils were flaring; he was very, very angry.
He pointed the blaster at the Duronians' chest.
"Kavar...don't," Padme whispered.
Kavar let out a growl, and then squatted down, right by the Duronians faces, putting the blaster pistol to their heads, rotating, putting it the pistol to one head, then the other.
"Who...do you work for?" Kavar growled, placing the blaster pistol.
"Nobody..." one of the Duronians moaned.
Kavar growled louder this time, and jammed the blaster pistol at the same Duronian's head.
"Kavar!" Padme cried. "Don't! They're unarmed!"
But Kavar was not listening.
"Who do you work for!" he asked louder this time, almost shouting, jamming the blaster pistol into the Duronian's head harder.
"Si...di...ous..." the Duronian rasped.
Kavar's face went white, his hand trembling.
"Kavar?" Padme asked, almost in tears.
In an instant, Kavar's face flushed deep scarlet. He grabbed the blaster pistol, jammed it into the Duronian's head, and pulled the trigger 3 times. The sounds were sickening.
"Kavar!" Padme screamed.
Kavar then turned to the other Duronian and looked at him.
"Kavar, don't!" Padme pleaded.
Kavar looked at Padme and then back at the Duronian. He could see the pleading look in Padme's eyes as well as the Duronian's.
He turned and looked at the Duronian.
"You're lucky you're not dead," Kavar hissed, before he got up, gave the blaster back to Padme, and motioned for her to come with her outside.
When they got outside, Padme landed Kavar a punch to the cheek.
"What the heck did you do that for!" she shouted.
She then slapped him across the face, the other way.
"They were unarmed!"
Kavar looked at her, his eyes glaring.
"You're lucky you're not dead too," he said.
"I can't believe you! You just killed someone that probably should've stood trial!" she shrieked.
Kavar just stared at her coldly.
Padme took several deep breaths before
"Kavar, I must retire. I have a long day at the Courts tomorrow," Padme said coldly.
Kavar just stared at her before saying, "I'll make sure to call you a cab car."
He then stalked off, leaving Padme...alone to fetch her own cab.
At the Sith Refuge...
"I have never been so furious! Why would Father send those two knuckle brains out to kill her! ERGGG!" Kavar fumed. His father had betrayed his trust.
Kavar got to his Father's regular office at the Sith Refuge, and stepped in.
"FATHER!" he shouted.
But his father was not there.
Kavar grabbed one of the mini-Sith statues off of the shelves in the office and then threw it to the ground, smashing it to pieces.
"That's what your body will look like when I'm through with you," he hissed, before leaving the office, and going to the sparring room to channel his anger.
Obi-Wan and Anakin had gotten to the spaceport only to find one minor problem. There were no ships coming or going from Belgoroth.
"Great...just great," Anakin sulked. "No ship, no trip, no ride home."
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, the Force will provide a way."
Anakin moaned something before leaning back in his chair.
"Well, well, well," said a voice. "If it isn't the Jedi back from out of the cell."
Anakin and Obi-Wan's head whirled around to see Benny Bridgemon looking at the two, casually relaxing in a chair by one of the docks.
"I thought you were still in yours," Anakin said.
"Nope. That drunk old hag didn't know left from right, so he sent me to come and find you," said Bridge. "See if you got your 'job' done like a good little boy."
"Bridge...do you know of any ships coming or going from here?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yeah...actually. Just talked to my crew a few moments ago. They'll be in in about a week to come pick me up," Bridge said.
"Bridge...we need a huge favor. Can we hitch a ride to Coruscant?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Ok...well...there are two reasons why they'll be no way you can get a ride," Bridge said. "First...you are not getting on my ship dressed like a Jedi. Do you want my crew to die of fright?"
Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at each other. "We've been robbed of our clothes, Bridge," Obi-Wan said. "Any clothes we can get are going to have to be provided by you."
Bridge sighed. "Sure fine...but they aren't the finest rags in the galaxy."
Obi-Wan nodded.
"Second, I have no guarantee that you're going to have me arrested as soon as we get tothe surface of Coruscant," Bridge said.
Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other.
"Can a Jedi's word be good enough?" Anakin asked.
"Nope. The only way you can prove to me that you won't have me arrested is if you take the Smuggler's Oath," Bridge said.
Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged glances.
"What do we have to do?" Anakin asked exasperatedly.
"Well..."
Keira was currently in the Jedi Temple Library. She thought she might as well look up this Destiny Changer thing while she had the chance. Anyways, she still wasn't real clear on what this whole 'Destiny Changer' thing was. The Jedi weren't exactly...crystal on that.
She typed in the proper word in Basic on the terminal(she was actually really getting the hang of it now) and let the search begin.
It didn't take long. Before she knew it, there were more than one hundred entries for 'Destiny Changers'.
Keira stared at the first one. It read, "Destiny Changer: The Prophecy."
Keira leaned back in her chair. A Prophecy?
She clicked on the link. It opened to a few Basic words regarding the Destiny Changer. This is what it said:
The Destiny Changers have been in the Book of Jedi Prophecies and Lore for over 4,000 years. There will be 5 Destiny Changers in the time of the Jedi. They will all be female. One will marry the First Swordmaster. The Second will marry the Unifying Force Master. The Third will marry the Counsular. The Fourth will marry the Guardian. The Fifth will marry the Chosen One. All have a special purpose that remains to be known yet. They will be extremely powerful warriors that can change the destinies of others. They can not change the destiny of themselves. Even though the majority of the Jedi practice celibacy and don't allow marriage, these Destiny Changers will defy the Jedi in only those ways.
Keira didn't bother to look on. She was the fifth Destiny Changer no doubt. She also guessed this was the reason why the Council seemed a little ambiguous on the whole "You're a Destiny Changer" thing. They didn't know what Keira's reaction would be. And they hoped that it wouldn't be with arrogance and defiance against the Council.
Well, Keira was more shocked than prideful. In fact...she had not pride within her at the moment. Just shock. She would really marry Anakin. And she didn't really feel any defiance towards the Council either. They were ambiguous for a reason.
Sometimes...ignorance is bliss... Keira thought.
She would have to live with this fact in the back of her mind for a while.
Maybe I should just forget about it...Keira thought. I may be marrying him...but that doesn't mean I have to think about him all the time.
As Keira was looking through the Terminal entries once more, somebody, Ferus came up, obviously about to get on the Terminal right next to Keira.
He noticed her, but he sat next to her and looked through the Terminal anyways.
"What are you doing here?" Keira asked.
"Researching about the Sith War. Why?" Ferus asked.
"No reason," she said.
"What are you researching?" Ferus asked.
Keira immediately pulled up another page that wasn't about the Destiny Changer.
"I'm researching about the Code," Keira said.
"Oh..." Ferus said.
After a few moments, Keira spoke up.
"Why in the world were you eavesdropping and watching me in my room the day before last?" she asked.
Ferus stopped typing. "I heard you talking. But I didn't hear any reply. I decided to see what was up."
"Well, don't ever do that again unless you hear me screaming at the top of my lungs, or you feel major distress spikes coming from me, got that?" Keira asked.
Ferus sighed. "Got it."
Keira got up from the Terminal before turning it off, and then stalked off. She didn't want to even sit next to Ferus. He was getting on her nerves.
She just needed some time alone.
"We do so solemnly swear to not arrest the Bloody Smuggler's Crew once we reach Coruscant. If we do, we are to throw our self into the deepest part of Nar Shaddaa or Nal Hutta. We do so solemnly swear to be a part of the Bloody Smuggler's Crew," Obi-Wan and Anakin swore, their hands on the 'smuggler's bible' a little red book with all the tricks of the trade in it.
"Congratulations. You're a part of the Bloody Smuggler's Crew. But don't worry. You won't have to do any...real smuggling," Benny Bridgemon said. "But I would've made you if there were actually some things to smuggle and we actually had a ship here."
Anakin rolled his eyes.
"But...you will have to clean up around this dock, fix some droids I've got here, etc. etc." Bridge said.
Obi-Wan sighed. He hoped that the ship would come early.
"Master...I'll work on the droids," Anakin said, taking the task he was most interested in before Obi-Wan had a say.
Obi-Wan sighed and told Anakin to go about the work.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Bridge said. "You can't go about your work dressed like Jedi...remember?"
Anakin and Obi-Wan both looked down at their tunics and said, "Oh."
After the two had gotten dressed, they were thankful the undertunics had overcloaks to them. Now they could keep their lightsabers hidden.
Anakin ran to go work on the droids, while Obi-Wan was told to go man the dock area, which really only required a lot of sitting and waiting for nothing.
He would spend that time to probably catch...a little bit of shut eye...yawn...
And before he knew it...he was asleep.
Author's Notes: Ahhh! For once I get a chance to write a decent Author's Note. I'm so glad I got this in. I'm so tired...yawn. Must go to bed...yawn...again. Thank you all for reading. PLEASE! I COMMAND YOU TO READ AND REVIEW! THANK YOU!