Preston and Sabe road in silence as they drove to her sister's home. None of the interviews had gone well. Preston had been nervous, and when he got nervous, he became clumsy and accident prone. She thought he was nervous about the interviews, but little did she know that he had been thinking about his own dream all day. The dreamt up feeling of her body pressed to his was still burned in his memory. He looked back on the last interview he'd had.

"Sabe! It's great to see you again! How are ya?" Marcus asked as she and Preston walked into his produce shop.

"I'm doing great Marcus. I was wondering if you had a job for my friend Preston here."

"You know me. I always have a job available." Marcus grew and sold his own fruits and vegetables, and was always in need of an extra pair of hands around the shop. He had a tendency to hire irresponsible teenagers. The only good one he'd ever had had left for the university. The rest always stole or let their friends ruin the shop, or just plain didn't do a good job. The last one had actually come to work one day sky high on death sticks!

"What's your full name?"

"Preston Barineer."

"Experience? Special skills?"

"Cooking." It wasn't a total lie. Preston's master had been a terrible cook and didn't have a very good idea of what to feed humans. Preston had taught himself to cook out of necessity.

"That it?"

"Yes unfortunately. The last place I worked at went out of business. Not that people didn't like our food, but a cheaper restaurant came around with food just as good," Preston lied.

"Shame. But you won't have to worry about that here. People love my prices and my quality. If you lose your job here, you have no one to blame but yourself." Preston frowned. This guy didn't seem to like him so much. He felt jealousy rolling off of him. Preston probed his mind further and found slightly repressed memories of being rejected by Sabe herself. Multiple times. 'He must think I'm her boyfriend.' Preston concluded.

"Good to know. Hey do you have a refresher?"

"In the back," Marcus answered quickly. He seemed anxious to get Sabe alone. His eyes followed Preston until the door to the 'fresher closed behind him.

"So Sabe, where'd you meet your new boyfriend?" Marcus asked, completely unaware Preston's well trained ears could hear every word.

"He's not my boyfriend," Sabe said in just the perfect tone to make it sound believable. She hoped.

"Hm. So you're still available? I can't believe no one has tried to take you yet."

"Who says they haven't?" Sabe teased. "You're not the only one in town I have to continue rejecting."

"Careful pretty little thing. You're starting to sound a little conceited."

"Believe me, the attention is unwelcome."

"So what you don't like men? Cause if you don't, I can change your mind," Marcus smirked.

"Ha-ha. I do like men. I just don't like boys," Sabe retorted with a smile

"Oooh. That hurts Sabe," Marcus said with a look of over exaggerated pain on his face.

"What about Preston? Will you hire him? He's a great worker."

"Maybe. If you'll go out on a date with me."

"No," Sabe said with a laugh.

"Are you…" Marcus trailed of as he suddenly started to feel an itch in a very…ahem, personal area. Sabe noticed him starting to get uncomfortable.

"Are you alright?"

"Ummm fine, fine," Marcus lied.

"Hey that 'fresher is sparkling," Preston said as he walked back in. "Nothing bugs me more than a dirty public fresher. It's not that hard to keep them clean."

"Um, no it's not," Marcus said starting to squirm and sweat.

"So dude, do I have the job? I'm just itching to find out." Marcus widened his eyes. 'He knows. And he's enjoying every second of this. He's just waiting for me to scratch.' Preston smiled wider as though he were confirming Marcus's belief.

"No! You don't have enough experience, and I don't like your attitude. Get out of my shop." Marcus said a bit too loudly.

"Marcus, you barely," Sabe started.

"Out."

"Fine! We're leaving!" Sabe yelled as she stormed out. Preston followed her, and just as he was about to walk out, he turned around the same huge smirk on his face.

"Sorry things didn't work out. I was really hoping,"

"Get OUT!"

Sabe couldn't believe Preston had done that. She just knew that whatever had been bothering Marcus was his fault. She just couldn't figure out why he'd done it. Marcus hadn't been unkind to him at all... 'He's so immature,' she thought.

"I heard that."

"I didn't say anything."

"I heard your thoughts. You think I'm immature. Last time I checked you thought I was wise."

"You can be. But don't think I didn't figure out that whatever happened to Marcus back there was your fault. He would have hired you for sure! I just know it! But you messed up. And don't read my mind!" 'What if he hears me thinking about the dream?'

"When you're angry you project your thoughts out to the person you're angry at. Me. And he messed up way more than I did," Preston muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Don't think I didn't hear him hitting on you. 'I can change your mind,' Weirdo." Sabe looked over at Preston in shock. 'Is that why he did that? Is he jealous?' she asked herself. What Preston didn't realize was that she and Marcus always talked that way. It was their thing since they were teenagers.

"Whatever you did to him, no funny business at my sister's place, do you understand? Just because Kayle is my brother-in-law, doesn't mean he'll give you the job. Got that?"

"Alright alright. No funny business. So does your sister have kids?"

"Yes. Max is fifteen, Nola is thirteen, and Amara is ten."

"And she's how much older than you?"

"Six years. Oh and she's going to think you're my boyfriend."

"What?!"

"You heard me. She'll think I must really care about you if I'm letting you meet my family blah blah blah and helping you look for a job blah blah blah. Don't give her any reasons to believe you are my boyfriend."

"So what do I do? Argue with you?"

"No," Sabe said looking at him as though he were insane. Her sister would perceive arguing as sexual tension, but she didn't dare tell Preston that.

"So I should just agree with everything you say?"

"No you moron! That's worse!"

"Than what do I do?!"

"Just act normally!"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Preston scowled for the rest of the ride. If Sabe's family was anything like her, he'd be in for one heck of a ride.


Anakin walked across the bridge of the star destroyer to the control room where General Piett was supposed to be. First thing was first. Find out how far they had gotten in the investigation without him.

"General Piett. I've been looking forward to meeting you," Anakin said, his voice coming out in a deep baritone due to the voice modulator he'd installed in the helmet.

"You must be Lord Vader. We have been looking forward to meeting you as well. I assume you want a briefing on how the investigation has gone without you for the past two months." Anakin was impressed. Piett was definitely intimidated by Anakin's mask and height, but he didn't let it show and got right down to business.

"Yes. First and most importantly, have all the members of the High Jedi Council been confirmed as dead?"

"No sir. Most of them have been executed, but I'm afraid there are three still unaccounted for."

"Allow me to guess, shall I? Shaak Ti, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the infamous Master Yoda." Piett looked up in surprise.

"Yes sir that's exactly correct. H-how did you know?"

"Shaak Ti is capable of befriending any creature. It wouldn't be hard for her to find refuge. Obi-Wan Kenobi is resourceful and extremely intelligent. He did escape his imprisonment. Speaking of which I will have to meet those responsible for that. And Master Yoda is…Master Yoda. He will be the hardest to find. He is very adaptable, he could be anywhere. All three of them in fact. Do not make any assumptions when it comes to looking for these three. You must not underestimate them."

"Of course not sir. Underestimating an enemy is the worst mistake anyone can make in this world."

"Indeed. I want a report on all of your leads and everything you've done in this investigation so far. I want to look at all the supposedly dead-ends and everything you've done to specify them as such. Am I being perfectly clear?"

"Yes Lord Vader. I'll see that it is started and completed immediately." No sooner did Piett finish that sentence, than the speakers let out three monotone beeps.

"What was that?" Anakin asked in annoyance.

"The cafeteria has opened milord. They ring ten minutes before it closes as well."

"See to it that it no longer happens. These are grown men. They should know when the cafeteria is opened and when to feed themselves. Pathetic," he mumbled.

"Yes, I completely agree. I hate those things." Anakin immediately did another sweep of the general's feelings and was surprised to see that he wasn't kissing up to him. He was being completely honest. The beeps were annoying after all.

"Well, if the men are taking a break, then I will leave. I have an important call to make."


Padme smiled down at her children who once again seemed to be content to just look around the room. It was as though they were looking for something she thought, but realized she was wrong as Luke's eyes glued on to a shiny B-wing fighter model that Anakin had made. Leia on the other hand started to fuss again. Padme walked around the room with the baby girl in her arms for a while, tried to feed her, checked her diaper, but nothing seemed to be working. She was just plain unhappy without her father there. Just like her mother.

"Why can't you ever fall asleep like your brother?" Padme said to the little girl whose brother was in fact, fast asleep. Padme walked into the nursery in her continued trek around the house when Leia started to lean toward the crib. Padme started to put her in it, but then Leia wouldn't let go of her arm. Padme took her out, and she leaned toward it again.

"Leia, crib or mommy. You can't have both," Padme said to the little girl, even though she knew she didn't really understand. Padme looked down at the crib. There was nothing in there but a tiny pink blanket and the bear Anakin had given to his daughter just yesterday. And that's when it dawned on her.

"Is this what you want baby? You want your teddy bear?" Padme said grabbing the stuffed animal. Leia reached up for it. When Padme gave it to her, she immediately wrapped her arms around it. It was if she understood that Anakin had gotten it special, just for her and while Anakin wasn't here, her little bear could comfort her.

Suddenly, Padme heard the comlink go off and then two seconds later, a little cry from Luke.

"Uh-oh. The com woke up Lukey! Let's go get Lukey!" Padme said to Leia in a baby voice. After retrieving Luke, Padme put both twins in their basinets in her room and answered the com. When the holo popped up, Padme's heart skipped a beat.

It was the horrible black mask. The mask that Ani's face had changed into before her very eyes.

"AAAAAH!"

"Padme! It's alright! It's alright! I'm here angel. What's wrong? Why'd you scream?" Anakin asked as he placed his mask down next to him after taking it off.

"Th-the mask. Wh-where did you get that mask?" Padme asked timidly as she picked up Luke and Leia, who had started to cry after their mother's scream.

"I made it. I didn't want people to recognize me. I know it's a little creepy Padme, but it couldn't have scared you that much!"

"I-I-I saw it. In a dream. A nightmare. Last night."

"What happened?" Anakin asked in worried tone.

"I-I, you. The babies were gone. You turned into this, monster and and, I… oh Ani these dreams are even worse than I thought," Padme said looking at her husband.

"That's one of the reasons I didn't want to talk to you about them. They're very depressing, and sometimes, just plain terrifying. But you'll be okay. I won't let that happen. The twins will stay with us, and I will not turn into a monster. We'll be okay."

"I, I know," Padme replied. She and Anakin had barely noticed how transfixed the twins were with the holo image of their father. Leia reached out to try and touch the small image of her father. Her tiny little hand went right through the holograph, and Padme and Anakin immediately laughed. Leia swiped her hand through the image again and again before Padme finally grabbed her arm.

"No Leia. Don't do that. Then we won't be able to talk to Daddy," Padme said with a big smile still on her face.

"I really miss you guys. And I haven't even been gone a whole day yet. I guess I finally got used to having you around all the time angel."

"So have I. Even Luke and Leia have been acting differently. They're either absolutely miserable or extremely quiet. Too quiet. Leia's barely cried today!"

"Does Daddy's little princess miss Daddy?" Anakin said in his baby voice. Leia reached out for the holo picture again in response.

"No Leia. You won't believe this, but Leia has already grown very attached to that teddy-bear you gave her."

"Really?"

"Yeah watch," Padme said, reaching for the bear. She held it out in front of Leia, and she reached out for it, letting out a small cry of frustration because she couldn't reach. Padme gave it to her and she actually smiled.

"She knows daddy gave it to her," Anakin said.

"Yeah, she does. How have things been going?"

"Okay, I guess. We're heading for Coruscant first to look for any Jedi that might be living in the streets and so I can talk to Palpatine in person. Then we'll be heading for a few planets, all of which with a population of under one-thousand."

"Fun," Padme said sarcastically.

"Oh yes, tons. In fact, I'm in the mood for a good laugh. What's Preston been up to?" Padme laughed at his joke.

"He's looking for a job with Sabe."

"So he's going to move out soon?"

"He says he's not going to move out until after you come back. He probably won't have enough money saved up until then anyway."

"What could he do? Preston Naberrie was given to the Jedi, Preston Rabineer is dead, and Preston Barineer doesn't exist."

"Something small. Where they won't do a huge background check. Besides, I'm sure we'll be able to figure out how to get him a good identity soon." Suddenly Padme heard a few beeps, and then a sigh from Anakin.

"What was that? The cafeteria is closing. It's pathetic. Grown men need an alarm to tell them when they can eat. They can figure that out on their own."

"So everyone's going back to their posts?"

"Yes."

"Do you have to too?"

"Technically no. But I should. No one would respect me if I don't make appearances at the least and stay involved."

"So I guess that means you have to go."

"I guess. I miss you so much."

"We miss you too. I love you Anakin."

"I love you too angel," he said, before hanging up. When the image disapeared Luke reached over for the com this time, hitting it in a vain attempt to make it sow him daddy. After hitting it a few times, both he and Leia started to cry.

"It'll be okay babies. Mommy's here. Daddy will be back, you'll see."