Sabé awoke to find herself alone and settled in the bed of the quarters where Obi-Wan and Meira had spent the night. This was a surprise, since she had drifted off in sitting in a chair while watching them sleep. Breathing deeply and stretching, she reached out over their shared bonds, searching for the whereabouts of her daughter and her love.
Meira was happy, that much she could tell. She was probably in day care, playing with other children. Satisfied, she turned her attention to the Jedi.
//Ah, you're up!//
She smiled at the warmth in the tone of the sending. //Yes, I am. Where shall I meet you?//
//Stay right where you are. I'm bringing your breakfast, then we have to talk.//
The young woman furrowed her brow as she settled back down. He must want his answer today. She started her mental rehearsal of the conversation and the points she would make. She wondered how he would respond. She couldn't imagine that he would take it well. Sighing, she reminded herself that anxiety only made things worse.
A knock sounded on the door. Sabé called out, " Come in."
Obi-Wan entered with a tray of food that was meant to pack nutrition into every bite. "Here, your healers have prescribed a hearty meal for you. I'm told you should eat all of it."
As he set the tray down, she peered at how much food had been sent. "What, all of that? I don't think I'll have room!"
He gave her a stern glare. "Yané and her supervisors think you've been wearing yourself down. You're to take at least the next couple of days off from work, and eat as you should. Just to be on the safe side and assure that you'll actually follow their instructions, I have been appointed the caretaker to the Minister. While that's not a disagreeable task, I am concerned that it's even necessary." His expression softened. "What's wrong? I heard that something happened at the game last night. Please tell me."
Sabé gave him the details of the vision at the sabacc game,and what she thought it meant. The dissapointment and hurt in Obi-Wan's face almost brought her to tears again. The frustration from both of them over this situation hummed through their bond.
He sat back and pushed his emotions aside. Stroking his chin, he thought for a few moments. At last he spoke. "It's out of our hands, then. You can't come to Coruscant."
"And you can't come to Naboo," Sabé said. Her voice was low and sad.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, I can't transfer to a world without a temple. Naboo is unlikely to ever get one. Few potentials are discovered here, so the Jedi can't justify establishing a new order. They'll take the candidates into Coruscant."
Sabé bit her lip, hesitated, then spoke. "I have two ideas. The first will help us with our immediate needs. What if we chose another system, one where the Jedi are allowed to live as families and raise their own children? It might be good for Anakin too. Is it worth considering that option?
His eyes widened with surprise. "You're not speaking of Corellia, are you? You want to take the baby there? That's where all the most notorious pirates and smugglers come from!"
She slipped into her most careful diplomatic tones. "Those are not the only classes they produce. The system has industry, it has open land, and the majority of the citizens are law abiding. They have a thriving Jedi population and a first class security establishment. Most of our officers and palace guards have been there for at least some of their training, including Panaka and my father. They do have their own way of doing things. But then again, so do you and I."
Obi-Wan nodded, respect for her in his eyes. "You have thought a great deal about this matter. May I have time to consider it?" Sabé smiled and nodded in return. "And what is your other idea?"
"This is something that has to remain between us until the time is right. But I feel safe in telling you that there are far more Force sensitive potentials here than the Jedi have ever suspected. Perhaps if a system similar to Corellia's were put in place on Naboo, it would be well worth it to establish a temple. I have discovered that the vast majority of potentials are kept secret so the families won't feel the pressure to surrender the babies. Mind you, it would be slow starting it up. There would be a lot of prejudice to overcome...,"
Obi-Wan's jaw dropped. He recovered quickly. "I'm sorry. It's still difficult realizing that some cultures see only pain and sacrifice, not honor, in our way of life. I'm beginning to understand it a bit more now that I know Meira. I don't want to lose her. It would be difficult, even knowing it's for the greater good."
"I know. Well, there's much more to talk about, but we have a little time and it's best to let this conversation digest. Now--time to dig into this huge meal. Not the gourmet feast you delivered on Coruscant, but I'm still in the company of the best companion I could ever have." Sabé dared to send a hint of her affection for him over the bond, and was rewarded with a slightly surprised, yet very pleased expression.
Meira was happy, that much she could tell. She was probably in day care, playing with other children. Satisfied, she turned her attention to the Jedi.
//Ah, you're up!//
She smiled at the warmth in the tone of the sending. //Yes, I am. Where shall I meet you?//
//Stay right where you are. I'm bringing your breakfast, then we have to talk.//
The young woman furrowed her brow as she settled back down. He must want his answer today. She started her mental rehearsal of the conversation and the points she would make. She wondered how he would respond. She couldn't imagine that he would take it well. Sighing, she reminded herself that anxiety only made things worse.
A knock sounded on the door. Sabé called out, " Come in."
Obi-Wan entered with a tray of food that was meant to pack nutrition into every bite. "Here, your healers have prescribed a hearty meal for you. I'm told you should eat all of it."
As he set the tray down, she peered at how much food had been sent. "What, all of that? I don't think I'll have room!"
He gave her a stern glare. "Yané and her supervisors think you've been wearing yourself down. You're to take at least the next couple of days off from work, and eat as you should. Just to be on the safe side and assure that you'll actually follow their instructions, I have been appointed the caretaker to the Minister. While that's not a disagreeable task, I am concerned that it's even necessary." His expression softened. "What's wrong? I heard that something happened at the game last night. Please tell me."
Sabé gave him the details of the vision at the sabacc game,and what she thought it meant. The dissapointment and hurt in Obi-Wan's face almost brought her to tears again. The frustration from both of them over this situation hummed through their bond.
He sat back and pushed his emotions aside. Stroking his chin, he thought for a few moments. At last he spoke. "It's out of our hands, then. You can't come to Coruscant."
"And you can't come to Naboo," Sabé said. Her voice was low and sad.
Obi-Wan shook his head. "No, I can't transfer to a world without a temple. Naboo is unlikely to ever get one. Few potentials are discovered here, so the Jedi can't justify establishing a new order. They'll take the candidates into Coruscant."
Sabé bit her lip, hesitated, then spoke. "I have two ideas. The first will help us with our immediate needs. What if we chose another system, one where the Jedi are allowed to live as families and raise their own children? It might be good for Anakin too. Is it worth considering that option?
His eyes widened with surprise. "You're not speaking of Corellia, are you? You want to take the baby there? That's where all the most notorious pirates and smugglers come from!"
She slipped into her most careful diplomatic tones. "Those are not the only classes they produce. The system has industry, it has open land, and the majority of the citizens are law abiding. They have a thriving Jedi population and a first class security establishment. Most of our officers and palace guards have been there for at least some of their training, including Panaka and my father. They do have their own way of doing things. But then again, so do you and I."
Obi-Wan nodded, respect for her in his eyes. "You have thought a great deal about this matter. May I have time to consider it?" Sabé smiled and nodded in return. "And what is your other idea?"
"This is something that has to remain between us until the time is right. But I feel safe in telling you that there are far more Force sensitive potentials here than the Jedi have ever suspected. Perhaps if a system similar to Corellia's were put in place on Naboo, it would be well worth it to establish a temple. I have discovered that the vast majority of potentials are kept secret so the families won't feel the pressure to surrender the babies. Mind you, it would be slow starting it up. There would be a lot of prejudice to overcome...,"
Obi-Wan's jaw dropped. He recovered quickly. "I'm sorry. It's still difficult realizing that some cultures see only pain and sacrifice, not honor, in our way of life. I'm beginning to understand it a bit more now that I know Meira. I don't want to lose her. It would be difficult, even knowing it's for the greater good."
"I know. Well, there's much more to talk about, but we have a little time and it's best to let this conversation digest. Now--time to dig into this huge meal. Not the gourmet feast you delivered on Coruscant, but I'm still in the company of the best companion I could ever have." Sabé dared to send a hint of her affection for him over the bond, and was rewarded with a slightly surprised, yet very pleased expression.