Knight Labooda stood to the side of the largest training room in the Temple along with half of the High Council and Knight Kenobi. Among the spectators were Grand Master Yoda, Master of the Order Mace Windu, and Sar Labooda's sister Depa Billaba.
Masters Plo Koon and Kit Fisto were closer to the center of the large room, using the Force to move obstacles through the air at the sparring pair currently engaging in a midair lightsaber battle.
"Skill, never in doubt. How far they have come and how much we can learn, is now worth pondering," The small, frog-like figure of Yoda said as he leaned on his gimer stick.
The large dark form of Mace Windu gave a nod of agreement. "Master Billaba, activate the droids. Let's see if they can keep up this pace while reflecting blaster bolts."
"I must say, I look forwards to what the Council is able to think up for the Trial of Courage," Knight Kenobi quipped with a smirk on his lips.
"I would say Tanya has already proven her courage and insight," A frown was on Windu's stoney face as he started his opinion.
"We are well aware of your opinion on politicians, but some of us see no reason to fear them," the modulated voice is Plo Koon said through his mask.
"Arranged, a suitable challenge will be," Yoda said.
"Their ability to pass the Trial of Courage is not our primary concern. When do you believe they would be ready for the Trial of Flesh and the Trial of Spirit?"
Kenobi and Labooda looked towards each other for a moment.
"Anakin is ready to face the Trials..." Obi-Wan Kenobi began speaking before trailing off.
"You have concerns?" Billaba asked, taking a close look at Kenobi's bearded face.
"He is ready to face the trials, but I am not as certain he is ready to pass the trials."
"Train him longer, you wish to do, hmm?" Yoda asked.
"I feel there is still so much for me to teach him."
"Your desire to see him learn does you well, but at some point you must trust your Padawan is ready to go on their own and continue their education without you," Mace Windu said as his eyes were locked on the furious match going on above their heads.
"What about you, Sister? Is Tanya ready to face the Trials?" Billaba asked.
"Mentally, yes. I am concerned about her health though," Labooda admitted. "Her FIP has caused a few issues over these last few years. We knew she was never going to be a particularly tall Jedi because of it, but the hormonal barrage has caused her no end of grief. The human body is not meant to go through all those changes so quickly and at such a young age."
"When do you believe she will be ready to face the Trials?" The stoney frown on Windu's face grew deeper as his eyes focused on the fitting figure of a short blonde woman. A girl that should still have baby fat in her cheeks, but who looked closer to a short or malnourished 19-year-old than the 10-year-old preteen she actually was.
"The doctor has been monitoring her hormone levels. Once they level out and we know she has hit a plateau in her body's induced puberty, then I believe she will be ready. I do not want her facing the Trial of Spirit while her head is fogged over from a rather difficult puberty."
—-
Five long years of training to keep ahead of Tanya. Five years of learning how to use his power to batter Tanya's tricks to the side and smash through her defenses. Five years and Anakin continues to struggle to stay ahead of the younger, smaller Padawan.
Tanya's strength was comparatively pitiful. Her lightsaber form a poor match up. Her height minuscule.
And yet, the only other person able to challenge him in a duel was Master Kenobi and his steady, impenetrably defensive Form III. What Tanya lacked in strength she made up for in speed. What Tanya lacked in her lightsaber form she made up with Force tricks. What Tanya lacked in height, she made up for by taking the battle to the air where Anakin learned long ago being bigger just meant there was more places to hit.
Anakin would show he was the best in front of the Council. He would show them he was ready for the Trials. He just first needed to break through Tanya's tricks.
There, she is readying to snap. A tell on the next trick. Anakin could feel the grin on his face. Charge in with a feint.
Tanya's fingers snap.
Danger. Explosion.
Grab the Force and pull it to the side to send a blast of wind clearing the fire away and disrupting the shockwave. Kick her hand out of the way. Plant the tip of his lightsaber to the younger Padawan's throat.
"...I yield."
The sour look that briefly appears Tanya's face as she recognizes she lost once again is sweeter than bantha milk thanks to the effort it took to win each time.
Retracting the blade, Anakin reorients himself to land on the ground and give a respectful bow to his opponent.
"Alright Anakin," Master Kenobi says. Ignoring how much of an accomplishment it was to defeat Tanya. "Get cleaned up. We have a mission."
"Yes Master. What is the mission?"
"Body guards for a senator." The smile tells Anakin Obi-Wan was hiding something. There was a trap here. Best way to handle a known trap was to spring it.
Anakin put on a sour expression as he followed his master out of the training room and to the showers. "A senator? How boring."
"Maybe, but I imagine you will enjoy catching up with this one. She is an old friend of ours."
An old friend? Anakin was not close to any senators. The closest person to a senator he knew was Chancellor Palpatine. Despite Anakin's apparent difficulty with people's genders, there was no confusing Sheev Palpatine for a woman. The thought of it sent a shudder up Anakin's spine.
"Who is this old friend?"
There was that grin getting bigger. Here is the trap. "How could you forget Padme Amidala?"
"Padme?" Angel? The most beautiful and pure person Anakin ever met. He could never forget her. "I did not know she became a senator."
"Yes, and we don't want to keep her waiting."
"Yes Master."
—-
Nute Gunray was not one that put a lot of stock in religion. Or, rather, Nute Gunray had previously been one not to put a lot of stock in religion. Ever since that little padawan was possessed by a Je'daii spirit and began praising a nameless god Lord, Nute has found it difficult to avoid faith in some immaterial being.
The gold handprint still shimmered on his arm, kept hidden by long sleeves, and it gave advice to the Viceroy. A small spark of pleasure anytime he praised the nameless being and anytime he was doing something it approved of. Over time, with plenty of experiments, Nute found things it wanted him to do. Foolish things like charity and helping the needy.
Yet, it was the results of the business deals, the trade agreements, and benefits given to employees the symbol liked that made Nute begin questioning if charity was such a foolish venture.
Every business venture the handprint liked resulted in greater profits than any of the other ventures Nute had engaged in. Every single one, by significant amounts that were beyond the expected margins of error.
If this was what having faith resulted in, Nute could begin to see the appeal. He just needed to talk to the little padawan again. She must have answers to the questions Nute had about the religion followed by this spirit.
It was proving profitable following it blindly without guidance. It must be even more profitable with guidance.
—-
Padme Amidala, former Queen of Naboo and current Senator, was not pleased. She was on her way to the senate to vote down the ridiculous Military Creation Act. It was a provocative and aggressive waste of resources meant to browbeat the planets threatening separation into staying.
The Republic has been at peace for nearly a millennium without an overpriced fleet of ships draining resources better used directly helping the citizens with relief efforts and increasing food production. Besides, sector defense should be a local government concern, not in the hands of the galactic government where corruption of all sorts can ruin its effectiveness.
After the Naboo crisis, it became clear to Padme that Planetary Defense Forces was the best way for planets to defend themselves from illegal blockades and piracy. To build up a single Grand Army of the Republic as the proposal suggested would take resources away from the individual defense forces.
Padme could not let this be allowed to pass. It would undermine what she stood for, what her people stood for. The power should be spread out to the small local governments and the Republic should be there only to support the local efforts.
Arriving on Coruscant, Padme readied herself to disembark while Corde, Padme's decoy and a body double, stood at the ready to get off the ship first.
"We have arrived my Lady. Please wait a moment while I step off first."
Padme rolled her eyes as she gave a good natured grin. "I know Corde. This is not our first time doing this."
"As you say my lady."
Corde and the first part of Padme's entourage descended the ramp. After a moment, Padme followed.
BOOM!