"How was it that you were almost a farmer?" Sabé inquired, breaking the silence of their journey through space. "I thought you grew up in the temple?"
"I did." Her eyes searched his face at his tight-lipped response. "Those that grow up at the temple are expected to be taken by a master as a padawan at the age of 13. Those that are not are sent elsewhere, their services of use as healers or farmers."
"That seems harsh." Sabé commented, her eyebrows knitting together.
"We are all happy to serve the force, in any capacity." He responded, his face was impassive and his voice soft, giving away no emotion.
"Were you not upset at all?" She watched as he let out a deep sigh, a hidden emotion playing below the surface.
"It was my dream to be a Jedi, but we all must follow the will of the force."
The rest of the ride through the galaxy was quiet, Obi-Wan offering no more on the subject. Sabé thought long on Obi-Wan's responses to her questions. She considered that the life of a Jedi was as dedicated to their duty as hers had been to Padmé. It was just harder to understand. She had always been good at guarding her emotions, keeping them close to her chest. But she could not imagine a life where they were not acceptable and her own free will brought into question. Obi-Wan pulled her from her thoughts as they arrived.
"Well, there's our lost planet, Captain. Right where is should be."
"What lovely weather they're having." Sabé commented as the torrential downpour made it harder for Obi-Wan to land. She was not prepared for such weather and realized her light cloak would be quickly soaked through. Obi-Wan chuckled a little, his face sobering as he too realized they would be compromised in the rain. Together they bolted to the door, thanking anyone above that the doors opened freely and they would not be exposed to the harsh cold rain any longer. They looked at each other for a moment upon entry. Obi-Wan's hair was thoroughly drenched, his Jedi robe doing little to aid him. He was glad for the layers in his tunic, as the innermost layer seemed to have stayed dry during the small journey. The same could not be said for Sabé. Her dark auburn hair clung to her neck and forehead, water droplets cascading from them into her face. Her black jumpsuit and cloak were suddenly heavy with water and she had already begun shivering from the cold it brought with it. Both their gazes turned quickly as another figure approached them.
"Master Jedi. The prime minister is expecting you." The tall slender Kaminoan stated expectantly.
They both shared a confused exchange between one another before Obi-Wan responded.
"I'm expected?"
"Of course! He is anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now please, this way."
With that she turned around and began to lead them down one of the very white hallways. Sabé noted that the Kaminoan people walked with an otherworldly amount of grace. This woman seemed like she was walking on air. The prime minister was the same as he raised himself from his seat to great them.
"May I present Lama Su, prime minister of Kamino. And this is Master Jedi…" The Kaminoan turned to them, awaiting their names. Obi-Wan and Sabé both bowed lightly in greeting.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi and this is Captain Sabé Naberrie." Obi-Wan replied, motioning to Sabé at his introduction.
"I trust you're going to enjoy your stay. Please." The prime minister motioned for them to sit as two chairs swirled into view. "Now down to business. You will be delighted to hear that we are on schedule. 200,000 units are ready, with a million more well on the way."
"That's good news." Obi-Wan responded, his Jedi mask hiding their confusion to such a statement.
"Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that his order will be met on time." At this Sabé was even more confused. While she was not acquainted with all of the council, she had never met nor heard of him. Apparently, Obi-Wan shared the same sentiment as he questioned the Prime Minister.
"I'm sorry. Master - ?"
"Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council is he not?"
"Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost ten years ago." Obi-Wan relayed, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. But I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we've built for him."
"The army?" Obi-Wan confirmed.
"Yes. A clone army, and I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."
"Tell me, Prime Minister, when my master first contacted you about the army, did he say who it was for?"
"Of course he did. This army is for the Republic."
Sabé felt like the decoy queen all over again as she listened to their exchange, doing her best to keep her face neutral. An army for the Republic? Padmé would be horrified. Everything she had been working towards, ruined. An army already created right under their noses.
"But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourself." The Prime Minister continued.
"That's why we're here." Obi-Wan continued to cover. They were lead by both Kaminoans through the white hallways to observe the 'units'. Sabé was saddened hearing about their creation. Young children and men, life decided for them just to lead them into a battle they had no stake in. It was inhumane and Sabé could not wait to leave, her stomach churning. She did her best to keep up with them, listening to them tell Obi-Wan about their growth acceleration and training regimens. It was when Obi-Wan asked after the original host that Sabé fully listened, the Prime Ministers answer: A bounty hunter.
"And where is this bounty hunter now?" She asked.
"Oh, we keep him here. Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing: an unaltered clone for himself. Curious isn't it?"
Sabé bit the bile down as Obi-Wan continued "Unaltered?"
"Pure genetic replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more docile and no growth acceleration." Sabé mused over what a bounty hunter might do with a younger version of himself, no significant answer coming to her.
"I should very much like to meet this Jango Fett." Obi-Wan stated, following the same wavelength Sabé had earlier.
"I would be very happy to arrange it for you." The original Kaminoan, Tuan We, obliged as they were led to a small balcony over looking thousands of clones in formation, armored bodies of black and white, lined side by side.
"Magnificent aren't they?" Admiration was evident in his voice. All Sabé could do was stare. Anger almost threatened to overtake her, as she thought again of Padmé. Padmé, whose life was in danger for her views on the military creation act, as an army was already right in front of her. She took slow breaths as they were led back from the balcony.
Tuan We led her and Obi-Wan shortly after to another bay. A younger boy answered the door.
"Boba, is your father here?" Sabé again found it interesting that the bounty hunter had given himself a clone and now to find out he had, as a child calling him father was even more curious.
"Yep."
"May we see him?"
"Sure. Dad, Tuan We's here." He called before turning around to let them in. They followed him in to a small opening, presumed to be a gathering area. Another man entered the area behind him, from a doorway to the side of the short hallway.
"Jango, welcome back. Was your trip productive?" Taun We greeted him
"Fairly" he responded, eyeing them both with a false smile. His face reminded Sabé of the same one the supreme chancellor wore when congratulating them of their victory in Naboo. Fake and deceitful.
"This is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain Sabé Naberrie. They've come to check on our progress."
She was glad Obi-Wan spoke for her, her heart still racing, pangs of anger for Padmé still aching in her chest.
"Your clones are very impressive. You must be very proud."
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe."
"Ever made your way as far into the interior as Coruscant?"
"Once or twice."
"Recently?" Obi-Wan prodded.
"Possibly." Sabé caught it again as the bounty hunter spoke. Smug smile, eyes guarded, hands crossed in front of him, hiding something. Obi-Wan had hit some chord.
"Then you must know Master Sifo-Dyas." Before responding, Jango spoke in a foreign language to his son, who Sabé observed walked briskly to the side door, closing it.
"Master who?" Jango queried.
"Sifo-Dyas. Is he not the Jedi who hired you for this job?"
Jango walked closer to the Jedi in a more threatening manner. "Never heard of him. I was recruited by a man called Tyranus on one of the moons of Bogden." In this moment it was hard to tell if the man was lying or not. Some sort of truth was in the statement. The answer continued to elude her as she tried to fit him into the puzzle this investigation was.
"Curious." Obi-Wan replied, echoing her thoughts.
"Do you like your army?" The bounty hunter queried veering the conversation another way.
"I look forward to seeing them in action."
"They'll do their job well. I guarantee that." Sabé felt another threat in his words, as If he was alluding to another matter, perhaps one that dealt with her dear friend.
"Thank you for your time, Jango."
"Always a pleasure to meet a Jedi." They were face to face, eyes unwavering before he turned to Sabé, head tilted slightly forward, a smug smile gracing his lips. "Captain."
She could feel his eyes on them as they left his small home. They bid their farewells to Taun We, heading back out into the rain to their ship. Sabé was disgruntled she would be soaked again, just as she was starting to dry, another cold shiver running down her spine. She waited patiently, as Obi-Wan called the council through the downpour. He entered the ship shortly after.
"I will need to bring him to the council." He relayed to her. "Wait here." She started to sit up in protest but he was already gone. She looked around at the rain, the wet cold biting into her skin. This time she would let him go and wait, no matter how anxious she was to hope he might be the one hired to kill Padmé.
Her patience had started to wane, counting raindrops when she saw Obi-Wan running her way. Preparing the ship, she opened the hatch for him to jump in.
"He's escaped, but I've placed a homing beacon." She nodded, beginning their ascent.
"Did you learn anything else? Did the council approve the army?" She hoped they had not, feeling a slight betrayal if they had.
"No. They did not know." He had looked away thoughtfully as he admitted it. "It is obvious now that the bounty hunter knows why we came looking for him. I think he recognizes us." Sabé wished that she were flying this go around. It would have helped to distract her from running the same thoughts over and over again through her mind, her concern for Padmé growing.
"I suppose there is no point in trying to convince you to head to Naboo?" The silence broken by Obi-Wan, Sabé turned to look at him, her determination resolved behind her impassive face.
"You would be correct, Master Jedi. As I said before, she is my responsibility. I do not fear anything that is ahead." she finished.
"It will be dangerous. We do not know where we are following him to or who else will be alert and waiting for us. I will not be able to protect you."
"It is a good thing I can do my own protecting then, isn't it?" Sabé responded in a calm controlled voice. "I am more than capable of handling myself." She finished firmly.
"It is not the same. These wont be a few battle droids on the Naboo."
"Pardon me, Master Jedi." She bit out through clenched teeth, a bit exasperated by this man. "But I am a trained Captain. I am not a fourteen-year-old girl anymore. I know what I am doing and I am staying." He had known Sabé would be determined, but was still startled by her resolve. Her dedication to Padmé mirrored much the dedication of a Jedi to peace and the order, unwavering.
Obi-Wan quieted as they left hyperspace and Fett's starship came back into view. It did not take long for the bounty hunter to notice their presence; sending seismic blast charges their way. Obi-Wan was doing a spectacular job avoiding them, when he ambushed them from behind.
"Blast this is why I hate flying." Obi-Wan let out. Sabé's laugh was stifled by the missile coming their way.
"If we jettison the spare parts canisters and hide between those asteroids, we could hide and let him think he hit us." Sabé offered. Obi-Wan executed the plan beautifully, and they sat and waited hidden behind an asteroid. They sat in an awkward silence until Obi-Wan broke it.
"I did not mean any disrespect Captain, I just prefer not to lead any one into certain dangers without warning." She nodded to him in return, barely meeting his gaze. "I think we have waited long enough." Obi-wan finished before leading the ship to their destination.
"That's a highly unusual amount of federation starships clustered over there. Look." She pointed out to Obi-Wan as they descended to the planet below.
"I will go look alone. You stay with the ship." He said in a firm tone, exiting the ship in one swift movement.
"And if something happens to you?" She started, jumping out of the starship and walking to him.
"If I am not back within an hour, go back to the Jedi Council for help."
She looked him over, his Jedi robes had dried and his wet hair had begun to form waves as it dried. She could see the steeled resolve in his eyes, she could not change his mind this time. She sighed heavily. "Fine. One hour." She stated firmly. He nodded to her in response before heading into an opening between the spiraled rocks.