Sabé found Padmé still wrapped in her nightgown and blankets from the previous evening. She was sitting straight up and stiff on her couch, worry etched in every line along her face.

"Milday." Sabé began, just to be practically tackled in a rushed hug. Sabé hugged her back silently, albeit a little shocked by her actions. Padmé pulled away slowly.

"Sabé… All I could think of was Cordé." She whispered and Sabé could feel the concern radiating from her, tightening her hold on her before releasing her again. She left her there a moment, only to return with a calming tea.

"Have you slept at all?" Padmé shook her head in response, accepting the cup from Sabé. Sabé relayed the happenings of the previous evenings, save some of her more reckless decisions Padmé would not approve of.

"I have a feeling they will ask you to leave Coruscant." At this mention, Sabé saw Padmé's face scrunch up in annoyance and small traces of anger.

"I cannot hide while others place their lives at risk for me. Even more so, missing this vote is just not possible. It is crucial that the MCA is voted against. If I go into hiding, what would that say to the other senators. We need their support." Sabé could offer her nothing in return. For a moment she felt taken back to a time where such a choice was given to them before. She could hear her own words to Padmé once again 'Either choice presents great danger to us all.'

"Perhaps we are to rely on the judgment of the Jedi, once again." She responded, voicing her own memories to Padmé. As if one mind, as always, Padmé herself recollected those same words. 'We are brave your highness.'

"Remember when we were just girls practicing proper etiquette? No war? No armies?" Padmé asked, leaning over to loop her arms through Sabé's as they sat on the couch together. "Although you were your own force to be reckoned with even then." She continued. Sabé smiled at that, memories of their laughter flooding to the forefront of her mind.

"I will always be proud of myself for somehow convincing the great Amidala to shirk responsibilities. It did come in handy, knowing those tunnels." She reminisced thinking of all the times they would sneak out from a class or in the middle of the night. They would often run to the waterfalls and take midnight picnics and dips into the warm water.

The silence was broken by the softness of Padmé's voice. "I miss Naboo."

"As do I."

"One day we will retire there, and we will be the two squabbling old ladies always into mischief."

Sabé laughed a full-hearted laugh. " As much as I enjoy the sentiment of being a mischievous old hag, I do believe you will have settled down way before then. I will simply be your children's favorite aunt, spoiling them with too much candy before dinner and then leaving them in your care, you cursing me as I run to the quarters you undoubtedly have set up for me." Sabé noticed the small blush creep upon Padmé's face at the mention of her having a family of her own. It was no secret to either of them that Padmé hoped for her own, much like the one she had been blessed with growing up. Her smile faded to a small frown.

"But Sabé… What about you? Do you not wish for the same?" Sabé looked out to the window, a contemplative sigh leaving her lips. Her thoughts drifting to a far off place, another place in time.

"I feel my destiny is elsewhere." Padmé frowned at her. "Someone has got to keep you out of trouble." She teased, pulling a laugh from Padmé. Before Padmé could inquire further, their conversation was cut short by the arrival of Anakin. He had come to inform them of the council's decision. Obi-Wan was to lead an investigation and he was to escort the Senator back to Naboo for her safety. Sabé quirked an eyebrow in Padmé's direction at this. She knew she would not go easily.

"Milady, if you are to return to Naboo, I will do what I can here and perhaps find more answers. You will be safe there. The less entourage you have the better." She could see the defeat in Padmé's shoulders. She had won this argument. She bowed her head and went to help Padmé pack. She tried her best to stay absent for Padmé's and Anakin's following conversations, rolling her eyes as he claimed to be ahead of Obi-Wan. She did not know what to make of the Padawan, and only hoped the Jedi's faith in him was well placed. They walked down to the spaceport together, bidding farewell to Dormé and Captain Typho. Dormé would be serving as decoy to maintain image that Padmé was still on Coruscant.

"I'll get to the bottom of this plot quickly, Milady. You'll be back here in no time." Obi-Wan promised her.

"I'll be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi." Padmé turned to Sabé and pulled her into a full embrace. "You be careful. I know how you love trouble."

"Stay safe, Milady. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." With that Padmé and Anakin headed towards their aircraft, leaving Obi-Wan and Sabé to watch after them.

"I do hope he doesn't try anything foolish." Obi-Wan sighed to their retreating backs.

"I'd be more concerned about her doing something than him." Sabé commented. He looked down at her amused.

"Well yes if she is anything like you, then I suppose that would give rise for concern." She scoffed at him, playful scorn taking over her face.

"Come along now, we have work to do." He stared blankly back at her.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I am not going to be left out of the investigation, surely." She cut him off as he went to protest. "The senator is my responsibility and you can either agree now or we will both be doing twice the work we could save one another if we just worked together." He looked over her face, guarded steeled eyes looking back at him. Her shoulders were set in determination, arms crossed over her chest. She took his silence as approval, allowing that same mischievous smile from the night before to cover her face and turned to leave. He followed after her, shaking his head in regard to her antics. "Where to first, Master Jedi." She questioned him.

"I thought this was your investigation now?" He teased.

"You're the one with the resources." She countered. "What is it? Archives? The force? Jedi mind tricks?"

He simply smirked at her, sending a small flutter in her chest. Sabé internally shook her head, now was not the time. In reality, there would never be such a time. Her smiled faded slightly as she found herself standing in front of an old Diner. Obi-Wan ignored her questioning gaze and entered the diner, Sabé following closely behind him.

"Someone to see ya, Honey!" the waitress bot called out. "Jedi by the looks of him."

"Obi-Wan!" Dex called as he looked up to see the Jedi entering the building.

"Hello Dex!" Sabé couldn't help but notice the cheesy grin flash across Obi-Wan's face in response to Dex. He seemed to genuinely enjoy his company.

"Take a seat. I'll be right with ya!" He replied, before ducking back behind the kitchen.

"You want a cup of Jawa juice?" The droid called back to them.

"Oh yes, thank you." Obi-Wan responded, as Sabé vehemently shook her head no. She would never understand how he drank such a thing. Obi-Wan led Sabé to a nearby both and squeezed in next to her. Sabé's question of what they were doing here was left unanswered as Dex came around squeezing Obi-Wan tight. The Besalisk sat down in the booth opposite of them, friendly smile on his face.

"So, what can I do for you?" Dex began looking between him and Sabé, a mischievous grin gracing his features.

"Actually." Obi-Wan started. "You can tell me what this is." He finished as he pulled the toxic dart from his robes.

"Well! Wahttya know! I ain't seen one of these since I was prospecitn' on Subterrel, beyond the Outer Rim." Sabé studied the Besalisk now, such a large creature that should have been more formidable if his demeanor towards Obi-Wan had not been so friendly.

"Can you tell me where it came from?" Obi-Wan asked.

"This baby belongs to them cloners. What you got here is a Kamino saberdart."

"I wonder why it didn't show up in the analysis archives." Obi-Wan mused.

"It's these funny little cuts on the side that give it away. Those analysis droids only focus on symbols. I should think that you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom." He sent a sly look Sabé's way as he spoke, eliciting a small chuckle from her and a smirk from Obi-Wan.

"Well, if droids could think, there'd be none of us here, would there?" Obi-Wan rebutted.

Sabé found this the moment to chime in. "Kamino? I'm not familiar with it. Is it in the republic?" She asked.

"No, no. It's beyond the outer rim. I'd say about, uh, 12 parsecs outside the Rishi Maze. Should be easy to find, even for those droids in the Jedi archives." He let a hearty chuckle escape before he continued. "These, uh, Kaminoans keep to themselves. They're cloners. Damn good ones too."

"Cloners?" Sabé asked. She did not think such a think truly existed. "Are they friendly?"

"Oh, depends."

"Depends on what Dex?" Obi-Wan piped in.

"On how good your manners are and how big your, uh, pocketbook is." Dex chuckled loudly again at that. Sabé looked over to see Obi-Wan amused. She assumed a trip to the Jedi Temple would soon be in order. However, Obi-Wan took her by surprise when he suggested staying to eat.

"Don't you think we should continue our investigation? You did promise Padmé you would solve it quickly."

"We won't be any good to Padmé or anyone else half starved." He merely commented while continuing to peruse his menu. Sabé mimicked his actions, giving up quite easily, as she felt her stomach rumble. She had not realized she hadn't eaten since the night before. At the sound of her stomach, Obi-Wan's eyes met her, a smirk evident on his face

"Jedi in all their wisdom are right sometimes, I suppose."

They ordered a few moments later and fell into small conversation with Obi-Wan relaying the events of his latest mission.

"How has Anakin been fairing with the change? It is so strange to see him all grown up, no longer that little boy." She asked as he concluded his story.

"It has been a difficult change for him, but he has grown incredibly in such a small amount of time. It is sometimes hard to believe he was not a Jedi from birth." Sabé studied Obi-Wan as he spoke, his face giving nothing away. But there was something in his voice, some feeling in the air that hinted at a hidden concern.

"It must be hard being taken from your mother so young and with such a troubling history. I am surprised he has faired this well." At her comment she could see Obi-Wan shift in his seat. They fell into a lulled silence, Obi-Wan contemplating her as she focused on her plate instead. After a few moments Sabé finally broke it.

"I remember how hard it was." She spoke in a low murmur. She didn't talk to anyone about her childhood, not even Padmé. Now as she thought about it, Captain Panaka might be the only one to know. Sabé didn't know what had come over her to make the comment; her words had just come tumbling out, something that was very not like her. Sabé thought through each of her words carefully, at all times. It was just habit now to always be wary. Careful. Thoughtful. Obi-Wan remained silent, letting her words permeate through the air. No question was asked, not even as his gaze once again met hers.

Obi-Wan contemplated the young woman before him thoughtfully. He realized how little he knew about her, thinking on her words. They had only been in brief contact, not allowing much of their friendship to grow. What he had known about her was that she was brave, strong, levelheaded, and kind. He would forever remember her patience and kindness as he poured out his grief to her, not asking for anything from him in return. Her own planet had been attacked and in chaos and not once did she seem to have thought for herself, shouldering his grief for him. He knew she suffered from insomnia, played a mean game of Sabaac, and was quite a talented actress. Other than that, much was left a mystery. It would also seem much had changed since their time together then. Ten years had passed and she seemingly had grown into her own. She was still dignified, holding an air of importance and one that demanded respect to her presence, but there was something new. That fire he had noted last night, there was some new rebellious nature in her that he couldn't quite pinpoint. He felt intrigued and enraptured to want to learn more about her, more than he perhaps should. His thoughts were interrupted by her soft words.

"Sometimes if I close my eyes, I can still hear the soft strum of the hallikset. My mother use to play it so beautifully. Her voice championed anyone else's; it always just fell into harmony with the instruments around her. It feels so long ago now, so long it feels like watching someone else's life instead of my own."

"What happened?"

"I went to the Theed Conservatory, as my brothers before me. I was meant to be a musician, come home and keep the tradition alive."

"But you didn't?" Obi-Wan leaned forward curiously as Sabé shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning further back into her seat. Her hands rose to fiddle with a piece of her hair. She felt like a child again, caught in awkward conversation. She didn't relish this one and found herself regretting her mouth, but it just kept moving. Perhaps it was Obi-Wan himself that led her to talk this way, remembering how too freely she had voiced her concerns aboard a Noobian ship all those years ago.

"It is no small coincidence we are practically identical. The first time I met her I felt like I was looking in a mirror." Sabé quieted, reflecting on past memories, how both girls had been in awe of one another.

"I could say I understand that feeling" He smiled at her, remembering the way the true queen had pushed past her to reveal herself to the Gungan leaders. He couldn't tell the difference, not until the reveal and not until Sabé had come to see him, her face free of the queen's make up. Even now as both women grew older, they looked much the same. As Obi-Wan studied Sabé's face before him, he noticed the small differences. She had a light scattering of freckles across her cheeks, where the senator did not. Her deep chocolate eyes slightly larger, holding flecks of gold. Her nose just barely slimmer, and lips slightly more plump. To anyone who did not know them, they could still be one and the same. Sabé quirked a small smile back to him.

"To say my family was disappointed is an understatement. I haven't seen them since. I just felt like there was more." She paused a moment. "I still feel like there is more." With this, Sabé's voice lowered, and her eyes fell back to her plate.

"I'm sorry." She looked back to meet his gaze with a full smile.

"It is not necessary. Padmé is my destiny now. Padmé is my family. I am blessed."

He could hear the sincerity in her voice and nodded to her thoughtfully. Naberrie. It was Padmé's last name. She must have taken it on as well as her duty.

"Now master Jedi, I have said more than I ever intended and I expect payment in return." The mischievous smile from the previous evening was gracing her features once again, eyes boring into his with questions of her own.

"I do believe I already regaled you of the fantastic tales of my latest mission." He chuckled, smirking.

She scoffed loudly. "Tales of a border dispute are not nearly enough to cover my fee."

Obi-Wan lifted his hand to his chin, stroking his beard, feigning deep thought.

"I was once destined to become nothing more than a simple farmer." He smiled as Sabé abruptly stopped eating, face lifted to his, mouth slightly open in shock.

"The great Mast Kenobi not a Jedi? I can hardly imagine you as a farmer."

"As I can hardly imaging you a musician… I was not a very good student. I often allowed anger and fear to control my actions. However, it has done much in my way of training Anakin. I like to think I am more understanding of him than I would be otherwise. I believe it does a great benefit to us both."

Sabé tried to think of Obi-Wan as angry, but found she couldn't. Even when she met him as a younger padawan, he had been in perfect control of his emotions.

"We might take our leave now Milady." He interrupted her thoughts, credits laid on the table, and he already out of the booth waiting for her.

They waved their goodbyes to Dex. Sabé was the first to exit, Dex having pulled Obi-Wan back to whisper in his ear.

Obi-Wan could tell her thoughts were far away as they walked together in silence towards the Jedi Temple.

"We will find out who is after the Senator." He commented trying to rouse her from the deep worry lines on her face. She let out a long sigh, her facial grimace only deepening.

Obi-Wan thought back to their first meeting back on Naboo, her face had been one of such determination replaced by surprise as they had landed down next to her from the balcony. He had marveled at how well she carried herself under stress, guarding her emotions, her face almost always impassive. She had been so reserved as decoy. Even after she was no longer held to that secrecy, she was extremely focused on their mission, taking on much more than the average fourteen year old. It was such a stark difference to now. While she still held much of those characteristics, he realized she allowed more thoughts to play across her face in his presence then she use to, proven by the grimace he was observing now. She had also proven she was still well in control, however, as he had regarded her on their first meeting at the Senator's apartments after ten years. They had been unable to keep in contact over the years. She was enveloped in her duties, as much as he had been. But now here she was again, on another daring mission, with him no less. Just as determined and willed as she had been before, possibly even more so now. He had begun to learn that a certain quality swirled about her in the force, her own type of signature within it: Brave and Bold.

Such was the energy in the force he felt now, her small hand gripping his cloaked arm fully as she jerked him aside and out of his memory. He was unbelievably close to her as she pulled him down against her and into a dark ally way.

"Sabé!" He went to protest, uncertainty lacing his voice.

"Shhh!" She said as she looked over her shoulder behind her. "I swear someone is following us."

He stilled. Opening his senses to the world around them, which was proving difficult when pinned against the wall, pressed into by this young woman. Despite the time apart, Obi-Wan was not daft to how lovely she was. The young worried face of the fourteen year-old girl had been replaced by the features of a daring young woman. Even now as they hid in darkness, he could make out her fine features, a few curls framing her heart shaped face. Her dark chocolate eyes were piercing behind her into the darkness, a small frown framed by perfect lips. He could feel her chest rise against his with every breath. His thoughts momentarily drifted to Dex's last words at the Diner. 'Best not to let a lovely creature like that out of your sight.' He forced his eyes to look away from her and in the direction she was looking. Forcing his concentration, he found nothing lurking in the shadows. Just as he intended to relay his findings, he felt abruptly cold, Sabé having moved away from him.

"They must be gone." She stated all business, seemingly unphased by their previous position together. Of course, he hadn't expected her to be. Sabé had been nothing but professional and politically correct since he had known her. She had, however, effectively disarmed the Jedi by her closeness. He willed himself into the embrace of the force, as the faint sent of flowers left his senses, continuing their way to the temple.

It seemed they had run out of their luck again, facing an empty space where a planet should be. It was Obi-Wan's bright idea to call Chief Jocasta Nu for help. Sabé had been sitting patiently waiting for them to return, her thoughts drifting to a dark ally way. She was certain she had heard footsteps, feeling a sense of dread with every step they took. She had not anticipated her position when pulling Obi-Wan into it with her. She had overestimated the force necessary to deter him, practically throwing him against the wall and her to him. Her decoy abilities maintained her feigned focus, but she had felt anything but. He was too close, his exclamation of her name, his breath against her neck. It was all too much. She had cursed herself inwardly. It was not like this on Naboo. She had regarded him in friendship and had barely taken more notice than that, just thankful for his presence and assistance. Although then, she had only been fourteen, her focused heightened on protecting Padmé and the planet. While he had been a young man, she hadn't the time to observe him. But now, something was different. Time had done him justice, strengthening his jaw, removing traces of his boyish features, replacing them with hardened structures of a man. She would be lying to herself if she refused to admit she had appreciated such changes. Sabé's thoughts were gratefully interrupted when she finally heard Obi-Wan near, explaining their plight to the older woman.

"Kamino. It's not a system I'm familiar with." She responded. "Are you sure you have the right coordinates? She asked, leaning over their shoulders to look at the charts.

"According to my information, it should appear in this quadrant here, just south of the Rishi Maze." Obi-Wan explained. Jocasta Nu typed in a few settings and shook her head at the sight of no planet.

"I hate to say it, but it looks like the system you're searching for doesn't exist."

"Impossible." Sabé huffed. "Perhaps the archives are incomplete." At her bold statement, Jocasta Nu stood up tall and bitingly responded to her.

"If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist." She turned abruptly from them, obviously offended and tended to a young padawan waiting for her.

Obi-Wan turned back to the chart, his hand rising to rest on his chin and stroke his beard. Sabé observed the action, trying best to not think of what it might feel like in her own hand. His blue eyes were further deepened reflecting the blue haze of the screen before him, deep in thought. She admonished herself for her own thoughts.

"What do you make of it?" She asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

"I am honestly unsure. We will need to seek more guidance. It is alarming that the planet is not there. I have no doubts that Dex is true with his information." She nodded her understanding. This was a deeply disturbing matter. "Let us go find Master Yoda." He finally announced, standing up from his position. Sabé stood as well, letting a small teasing comment; Yoda might as well be just as old as the archives themselves. Sabé had always liked Master Yoda. She had met him her first day on Coruscant as he had come to meet the new Senator of Naboo. He was very wise, but what she reveled in was his unknown sense of humor. The Master had a way about it and Sabé had indeed won him over with the promise of sending him Naboo tea from time to time.

They found Master Yoda with a group of younglings beginning their trainings with a lightsaber.

"Use your feelings you must." He was saying to them.

"Younglings. Younglings." Master Yoda called as he noticed them in the entryway of the room. "Visitors we have." The room chorused with hellos to Obi-Wan and a few shy eyes met her own. Sabé found the group quite adorable at such an age and smiled even more as she noticed Obi-Wan's own look of joy at their greeting.

Obi-Wan responded with a quick hello before turning to Master Yoda.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Master."

"What help can I be, Obi-Wan?"

"We are looking for a planet described to me by an old friend. I trust him, but the systems don't show on the archive maps."

"Mmm. Lost a planet Master Obi-Wan has. How embarrassing. How embarrassing. Liam, the shades." At this the children laughed and Sabé did her best to hide her own mirth at Obi-Wan's expense. Of course the Jedi did not even seem phased by the merriment, smiling as he walked towards the center of the room where the map-reader awaited him.

"Gather round the map reader." Yoda called, motioning Sabé to come closer as well. "Clear your minds and find Obi-Wan's wayward planet we will."

"It ought to be… here." Obi-Wan motioned to an empty space in the stars. "But it isn't. Gravity is pulling all the stars in the area towards this spot."

"Hmm. Gravity's silhouette remains, but the star and all the planets, disappeared they have. How can this be?" Sabé looked around at the younglings as Yoda asked his question. It was obvious he was very revered by them and he seemed to be an exemplary teacher. "Hmm? A thought? Anyone."

A small boy piped up, "Master? Because someone erased it from the archive memory." Sabé saw Obi-Wan still at this. Face pensive, a hand rising to stroke his beard. To Sabé, it did not seem that impractical, but perhaps it meant something else to the Jedi.

"The padawan is right. Go to the center of gravity's pull and find your planet, you will."

Sabé nodded at that, waiting outside the room for Obi-Wan. She tried not to ease drop as the pair of Jedi passed by and she set to follow behind them. They were still discussing the erasure of the archive data as Sabé watched Obi-Wan call the small globe back to his hand with the force.

"Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is. Only a Jedi could have erased those files. But who and why, harder to answer. Meditate on this I will."

There was one thing Sabé did understand from Master Yoda's statement, their investigation had just become much more complicated. Obi-Wan turned to her as Master Yoda left for the council chambers. His arms folded across his chest and his face suddenly unreadable.

"Captain" He began. From his tone she could begin to deduce what he was trying to say. It did not escape her notice that he did not use her name.

"Master Jedi, I am more than capable of keeping my own and facing such dangers. Do not try to dissuade me to join you." Her eyes steeled to her resolve.

"Captain, this brings new hazards to the situation. I am not sure what or who we will find on this planet. It may very well be a trap."

"Then you will be grateful you are not alone when you undeniably find your way into it." She smiled and turned away quickly, not giving him a moment to answer. "I will meet you at the landing dock shortly!." She called back to him. She rushed back to her apartments to change and gather gear. She was as quick as possible; slightly worried Obi-Wan might try to leave without her. She was relieved to see him waiting for her at his star fighter only 45 minutes later. He was leaning against it, closed eyes that opened to reveal that his usual brilliant sea foam orbs were a dark stormy gray as she came closer. He opened his mouth and Sabé was certain another protest was coming her way. She caught him slightly off guard, enough to have his mouth close, as she tossed one of her blasters at his chest.

"I am ready." Was all she said as she climbed into the co-pilot seat, turning just enough for him to catch a wide grin on her face.