A/N: Hello everyone! As always, thank you to everyone who read, followed, favorited, and reviewed. It is all of you that make this fic possible. Yay! Anyway, on to review responses… lunarchronicalsandcockatiels: Um… Which Emperor? Sidious or Aquillar? The Hope Lions: It is. Disney Syndulla: Hehehehe Fleet Admiral Evans: One thing I want everyone to remember about the Imperial army at this stage: the Empire has only existed for a few weeks. This is almost exactly the same army that fought the Clone War. They are being turned to a different purpose, and there will probably be less resistance to that than there should, but it is the same army, and for now almost entirely the same people. Between the Republic and Empire there is no magic line. The ships probably still even have the red paint on them. This is really early guys; there is still a lot of transitioning to do, particularly given it is under the leadership of a regular dictator rather than the Sith. The mysterious couple… Spoilers! Mako-clb: Thank you. Paralleling canon for the purposes of exploration is something that I try to do. I find it enjoyable, we all get to further look at how people might have felt about things in canon (particularly with Anakin, as he was insane, trapped in a black suit that does not allow much emotional expression, and just generally not showing us how Anakin would have reacted for much of canon) and I feel that it adds to the narrative I am trying to tell. Leia… no the OT did not do well with her response, but its also possible that, as with Padme here, when Han and Luke showed up she decided now was not the time to mourn. She needed to be professional, royal, and generalistic; ensure that business was completed so the Death Star would be destroyed and the Empire would pay for what it did. For all we know she was sobbing the entire time she was sitting in that cell before Luke arrived. Anyway, file that under Excuses I Come up With to Excuse Poor Writing for the Purpose of Plot and Character (since that, along with Padme's ep.3 OOC-ness is all canon as happening whether I like it or not). I hope this response answered anything you wanted to know. (And I still say Alderaan was almost entirely Tarkin. Vader was certainly no more at fault than the officer who put in the codes to fire, actually I would argue less so. Vader was in charge of nothing. He was forth in command, under Tarkin. He was a glorified attack dog that Palpatine unleashed in the general direction of people he didn't like. He did not give the order to attack Alderaan, actually he smugly tells Tarkin regarding Leia's interrogation, "I told you she would never willingly betray the Rebellion." It was his idea to plant a tracking device on the Falcon and let them go, knowing they would lead him back to the main base. It was Tarkin that wanted to go the "put more and more pressure on Leia until she breaks" route, while Vader rolled his eyes and told him it wouldn't work. Anyway, sorry. Nerd rant over) Jar-Jar, incidentally, died back in chapter 19. He objected to the Jedi purge, and so Aquillar had him murdered on the floor on the Senate. So at least he died a hero. Kind of. Michael: Maul and his Master… we'll see. The rebellion is definitely coming, but it will be a while before it is fully formed. Let's put it this way, all of that is point B, but there is a lot of plot between there and us back here at A. ZabusasGirl: Thank you, and here you go! JediMasterKenobi: Is Clone Wars worth watching. Well… it does give us some of the best Star Wars ever made… along with some of the greatest and most underrated characters (my baby, Hondo Ohnaka, shows up in this chapter) so… in a word, YES? ABSOLUTELY. GO WATCH IT NOW. It was not supposed to be as important to this fic as it has become, but I draw from all canon sources (and, like Clone Wars and Rebels, steal from EU when I want to) and, like I said, Clone Wars gives us a lot of our canon, so it ended up being really important. Sorry movie-only fans. I was once like you. I apologize, and I promise I will try to make everything as clear as possible. You are always welcome to ask for clarification if I fail at this. Anyway, read on…

I do not own Star Wars or its characters.

Chapter 38

Obi-Wan sat at a table in a large room of the Temple, which was currently being utilized as a communal cafeteria of sorts. Such use, they had found, greatly simplified food distribution, as well as knowing who had eaten and who had not. Anakin approached the table with his own meal.

"Hello. What's for breakfast?" the younger man spoke with sarcastic amazement as he opened the blue box, "Oh look! Protein and… nutrient sticks! My favorite."

Obi-Wan barely looked up, "Yes, well, we survived on military rations for five years, I think we can bear a little bit longer."

"Yeah, I know." He paused, eyeing the unappetizing, pasty stick distastefully, "You know what the best part of leave was? Getting to go home, sit down, and eat some real food. I think if I eat any more rations I'm going to be sick." Another pause as he waited for a response from his unresponsive friend. Finally he spoke, closing the lid on the box and shoving it aside, "I should see if Padme can do anything with this. She might be able to turn it into something halfway edible."

The other man raised an incredulous eyebrow, "Padme can cook?"

Anakin grinned, "Yeah. I couldn't believe it either. And not just cooking. She has," he shook his head slightly, "a lot of hidden talents. It's amazing what she can do."

"Hm," said the other, clearly preoccupied.

Anakin looked over at his friend, "What's wrong with you?"

Obi-Wan assumed an innocent expression, "Nothing."

The younger man continued to stare at him knowingly, "Uh-huh." As seconds ticked by he resumed speaking, "I know you better than anyone, Obi-Wan. You can't lie to me. Something is troubling you." He paused, "Please, tell me."

Obi-Wan stared at the floor, finally beginning to speak "Yesterday… I, um, I encountered this couple. They came in with the Naboo." He paused, "I felt this… connection with them. It was strange… strong. As if the Force was drawing me there."

Anakin stared at him, "What do you think it was?"

The other raised his head to meet his gaze, "Honestly? I have no idea. I tried to help them and was repulsed. But- but I want to go back. I-" He sighed, "I need to."

Anakin's forehead furrowed slightly in concern, "Do you want me to talk to them? Maybe I could figure it out. If you were rejected-"

"No, no. I can deal with it. Thank you for offering." Obi-Wan paused, "Besides, it is most likely nothing. After all, how could I have a connection with them when I can count the number of times I have been to Naboo on both hands?"

The other looked puzzled, "I don't know." Thinking of a possibility, he continued, "Are you from Naboo? Originally, I mean."

Obi-Wan shook his head, "No. I don't think so. Though to be honest, I cannot remember where I'm from." He paused, "Not that it matters."

"Do you have any ideas… or theories?"

Obi-Wan shrugged, "Well… my origin would be listed in my file… but that is in the temple on Coruscant."

Anakin nodded soberly.

"Besides, I can guarantee you I am not from Naboo. I think it might have been something starting with 'S', though I can make no promises." He paused, eager to change the subject, "How is Padme doing? This cannot have been easy for her."

Anakin paused, "To tell the truth? Not well." He paused, lowering his voice, "We can't find anything about her family. That we can tell, they didn't get out." He shook his head at the floor for a moment, "I just… I wish that I could do more to help her. I don't even know what to say, let alone how to fix it."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah." He was silent for a moment, "We don't really even know what happened… After they left, I mean. Typho said he saw ships arrive for the survivors, but since he didn't recognize them, that doesn't help us much. They could be shooting them, or planning mass imprisonment, or scattering them across the galaxy, or- or anything! We just don't know!"

Obi-Wan felt sorry for him, he and Padme had been through so much in the past few weeks. He wished he had some sage advice, such as he was sure Qui-Gon would have given, but all he could give was the same lecture he had given his apprentice a thousand times before, "Patience, Anakin. The mystery will reveal itself, in time. You only need wait."

The young man frustratedly stood up, starting to pace, "There isn't time to wait!"

"I know it isn't easy, but at present there is nothing else that we can do. We must wait, regroup, assess the situation, and gain a solid footing before we can prepare for larger endeavors. It is simply a fact."

Anakin pouted at the floor. Obi-Wan could almost see what he was thinking: Well, I don't like facts. Finally, after a long time, he spoke, "I have to go. There's someone I need to see."

Obi-Wan stared at him, "What do you mean?"

"If Aquillar would do this to get at Padme… well, he might go after people connected to me."

The other was confused, "Anakin, all of those are here on Odessan."

Anakin looked up, his eyes meeting those of his friend, "Not all."

Many lightyears away, on a nearly unpopulated planet of sparse plains and towering rock formations known as Florrum, a large band of weequay pirates was working to rebuild their fortress. Their leader was walking the halls, inspecting the work, accompanied by several of his most trusted lackeys, these being the ones he trusted not to shoot him in the back.

There was a click and a gun suddenly appeared in front of Hondo's face as he walked through a door, "Wha-ah-oh! What's this?"

The dark-haired teenager holding it did not seem amused, "You have something of mine. I want it back."

The weequay squinted his eyes at him in permanently drunk confusion, before drawing back and waving his hands, "I'm sorry, who are you."

Silence, "Bo-"

Hondo laughed in sudden realization, "Boba Fett! Jango's boy. Yes, I remember now. You were trying to kill that Jedi. Yes…" He clapped his hands together, the smile fading, "Well, haven't you grown. You look just like your father." He paused, "So, how was prison?"

The gun didn't budge, "My ship, Ohnaka. Give it to me."

"You really don't like small talk, do you? You were twelve. You didn't have a ship."

The young bounty hunter was growing increasingly frustrated with the attempted distractions and misdirects, "Slave. One."

Hondo paused, his forehead wrinkling slightly, "Aura's ship?"

"MY ship. She was using it."

"Ahhh yes… I see…" He nodded, "Yes, I understand." He sniffed and threw an arm around Boba's shoulders, blatantly ignoring the cocked blaster, much to the other's consternation, "All right. Well… absolutely, my boy. I would be glad to give it back to you. But… you see… after Aura crashed it I had to give up quite a bit of money to get it working again. And then… after General Greivous came through with his droids-" He threw up his arms in drunken flamboyance, "Oh! Everything destroyed. I am a little short on credits right now. I cannot afford to just give out gifts to everyone who comes to my door! So." He sighed, "You pay me what I spent on repairs, fuel, and so forth… plus a little bit for interest, and you can fly out of here tonight. Given the circumstances, and the great sentimental value the ship must carry for you, it's a good deal. What do you say?"

Boba stared at him as if he was insane, "What if I shot you between the eyes? Right now."

Hondo gave a near-laugh, "We-e-e-ell, then my men would have to kill you. No hard feelings, you understand, just… business." He paused, "Also, I don't accept credits. Spice is preferred, though I'll take any valuable resource that serves as accepted currency."

Boba shook his head, "I don't have any spice."

The other cocked his head, "Weeell… then I am afraid we cannot work together. Don't worry, my boy, it's not so bad. You got onto my planet, you must have a ship somewhere."

The teenager didn't meet his gaze, "A junker. I stole it a while back when I escaped prison."

"I am afraid that it will have to do a while longer. Believe me, I am sympathetic to your predicament, but as my dear old mama used to say, 'You cannot allow sentiment to influence profit.' Now, run along Boba, I have a great many things to do."

He walked away, leaving the young bounty hunter fuming behind him.

Tarkin watched pleasantly as the Queen of the Naboo was marched under guard onto his bridge. It was interesting, he thought, getting a chance to study her face without all the ridiculous layers of ceremonial makeup with which Naboo burdened its rulers. Actually, he reflected, such adornment could be seen as a sign of the planet's relative backwardness, as similar habits were common in primitive cultures.

He features, while not obscured by makeup, were marred and twisted with anger and fear, though she appeared to be attempting to conceal them, "The Senate will never stand for this."

Tarkin casually clasped his hands behind his back, "Oh I think they will. The fate of your Representative Binks cowed them into submission quite admirably. You do remember him don't you?"

The woman stared at him, breathing shallowly, the horrifying footage from the occupation of the Senate playing in her head. The horrible scream of the gungan as he fell, twisting convulsively, to the floor far below. Softly she spoke, terrified of the answer, "Was that a threat?"

The reptilian Admiral smiled thinly, "Take it as you like, my dear Queen." He paused, "Now, and I suggest you answer truthfully, Where is Amidala?"

She shrugged, "I don't know."

Tarkin was starting to get frustrated, "You don't know." He sighed, "I believe I did recommend the truth, did I not?" He paused, "My patience is wearing thin. Tell me."

"You know, you are not the first to invade us this way. Many have tried. The nemoidians made an attempt just fifteen years ago. And look where it got them."

"Yes, I remember the incident. Barely a blip, galactically speaking. It would have been less if not for the death of the Jedi. You overestimate the importance of your little planet, my dear, and Amidala and the Jedi can no longer save you."

"It doesn't matter. I don't know, and if I did I would never tell you."

He paused, considering the small, determined creature before him, "If you truly know nothing, perhaps we should put you with the others." Another pause, as he reached out to run a finger over her cheek, "I wonder, what sort of price might they get for you?"

The Queen raised her chin, "You don't scare me."

He nodded an acknowledgment, "That shall have to be remedied." His attention turned to the soldiers, "Take her to a cell and interrogate her. Do not stop until she tells you all she knows." His calm, quiet voice stayed them as they started to leave, "And try not to damage her. I doubt our new friends would appreciate it."