Chapter 4- Confusion and Longing
Later that day, Anakin sat at the computer, reviewing his holofiles. His eyes focused intently on every file, searching for the information he needed. His search had begun shortly after breakfast and it was now past lunchtime. He rubbed his aching temples, in need of a break, but was too stubborn to take one on his own. He was finally saved from his persistent task by Obi-Wan on a holograph.
"Master!" Anakin exclaimed gratefully.
"Anakin, I'm glad you're so happy to see me. I was just checking up on you."
"I figured that, Master. Isn't that what you always do?"
"It's what I live for. You of all people should know this, Anakin."
Anakin smiled respectfully at his mentor.
"Anyways, how is it going? Have you found any leads to who's behind the attacks on the Senator?"
"First of all, there was another attack last night, but I couldn't find any clues. The poisonous worms were just crawling up her bed. Second, I've been working on that all day so far. I've been looking through records, and various holofiles, searching for possible enemies. I hate to say this, but there are many different people who could be responsible for this. Past hostile planets that she refused to negotiate with, political enemies in the Senate, there are so many more, Master. How can someone like Padme have so many enemies?"
"I suppose that's the piece one has to pay after going into politics. There are more than you will ever find in your files, Anakin. You do know this? I can't even begin to imagine the possibilities. But something tells me that whoever is responsible for this is in the Senate. There's so much unrest there. I think it's safe to say that a bounty hunter was hired. The only question is, who hired them? I will talk to Yoda of this and we will meditate on this subject together. For now, Anakin, just keep her safe, and report back to me if anything more happens."
"Yes, Master."
"Oh, and Anakin?"
"Be more mindful of your thoughts."
"What do you mean, Master?" "I mean that the whole time we were talking I would read your thoughts. If you're going to think of the Senator, I suggest you put a block on your thoughts."
Anakin turned a dark shade of crimson, and Obi-Wan laughed at his embarrassed padawan.
"Don't worry, Anakin. I won't tell anyone, just try to keep in mind that she is a Senator and you are a Jedi."
"I will, Master."
"May the force be with you, Anakin."
"And you, Master."
Anakin turned off his comlink and dropped into his chair, but decided not to continue his vigorous search. Instead, he retreated to the balcony and began to clear his mind of all his worried thoughts for Padme. He found it difficult to meditate because his mind was wandering again and again to his beautiful angel. He thought of her flowing hair, and her sparkling, inviting eyes. He remembered the way she had embraced the day before, only in friendship. He wanted so badly for her to love him the way he loved her. But he had no way of knowing, and no way of asking that difficult question without ruining everything he held so dear. Suddenly, he felt a presence, Padme's presence. A presence so calming and soothing.
"Anakin, are you ok?"
"I'm just worried. That's all."
"Alright, I was just checking." She turned to leave.
"Wait! I mean, don't go. You calm me so much. I can't even explain it, Pad. You just do these things to me."
"What kind of things?"
"Ask me some other time, Pad."
Padme peered up at Anakin in confusion and curiosity. Could he be feeling the same way? Or was she misreading him? Either way, Padme left Anakin standing on the balcony; each of them clouded with the same thoughts.
Later that day, Anakin sat at the computer, reviewing his holofiles. His eyes focused intently on every file, searching for the information he needed. His search had begun shortly after breakfast and it was now past lunchtime. He rubbed his aching temples, in need of a break, but was too stubborn to take one on his own. He was finally saved from his persistent task by Obi-Wan on a holograph.
"Master!" Anakin exclaimed gratefully.
"Anakin, I'm glad you're so happy to see me. I was just checking up on you."
"I figured that, Master. Isn't that what you always do?"
"It's what I live for. You of all people should know this, Anakin."
Anakin smiled respectfully at his mentor.
"Anyways, how is it going? Have you found any leads to who's behind the attacks on the Senator?"
"First of all, there was another attack last night, but I couldn't find any clues. The poisonous worms were just crawling up her bed. Second, I've been working on that all day so far. I've been looking through records, and various holofiles, searching for possible enemies. I hate to say this, but there are many different people who could be responsible for this. Past hostile planets that she refused to negotiate with, political enemies in the Senate, there are so many more, Master. How can someone like Padme have so many enemies?"
"I suppose that's the piece one has to pay after going into politics. There are more than you will ever find in your files, Anakin. You do know this? I can't even begin to imagine the possibilities. But something tells me that whoever is responsible for this is in the Senate. There's so much unrest there. I think it's safe to say that a bounty hunter was hired. The only question is, who hired them? I will talk to Yoda of this and we will meditate on this subject together. For now, Anakin, just keep her safe, and report back to me if anything more happens."
"Yes, Master."
"Oh, and Anakin?"
"Be more mindful of your thoughts."
"What do you mean, Master?" "I mean that the whole time we were talking I would read your thoughts. If you're going to think of the Senator, I suggest you put a block on your thoughts."
Anakin turned a dark shade of crimson, and Obi-Wan laughed at his embarrassed padawan.
"Don't worry, Anakin. I won't tell anyone, just try to keep in mind that she is a Senator and you are a Jedi."
"I will, Master."
"May the force be with you, Anakin."
"And you, Master."
Anakin turned off his comlink and dropped into his chair, but decided not to continue his vigorous search. Instead, he retreated to the balcony and began to clear his mind of all his worried thoughts for Padme. He found it difficult to meditate because his mind was wandering again and again to his beautiful angel. He thought of her flowing hair, and her sparkling, inviting eyes. He remembered the way she had embraced the day before, only in friendship. He wanted so badly for her to love him the way he loved her. But he had no way of knowing, and no way of asking that difficult question without ruining everything he held so dear. Suddenly, he felt a presence, Padme's presence. A presence so calming and soothing.
"Anakin, are you ok?"
"I'm just worried. That's all."
"Alright, I was just checking." She turned to leave.
"Wait! I mean, don't go. You calm me so much. I can't even explain it, Pad. You just do these things to me."
"What kind of things?"
"Ask me some other time, Pad."
Padme peered up at Anakin in confusion and curiosity. Could he be feeling the same way? Or was she misreading him? Either way, Padme left Anakin standing on the balcony; each of them clouded with the same thoughts.