As promised, Obi-Wan showed up at Sabé's door that evening; everyone had
been asleep in his apartment, so it had been easy to sneak out. It didn't
take more than a split second for Sabé to open the door, and Obi-Wan had
the delighted suspicion that she had been waiting for him. From the look on
her face, he knew that she was as eager as he was to catch up. Though they
had had plenty of chances in the past two days, an unspoken agreement had
them waiting until they were alone, really alone, and free to spend as much
time together as possible.
"I made some caff, do you want any?" Sabé asked as she motioned Obi-Wan into her apartment.
"Sounds good," Obi-Wan said politely when, in all reality, he just wanted to spend time with Sabé. He decided that the drink would be a way to "break the ice".
Sabé's apartment was in the same design as the one he and the other Jedi were residing in, but she had it decorated differently. It seemed homely and had a lot of Nubian flare to it. He noticed she had quite a few holos of Padmé and the rest of the handmaidens. It flickered across his consciousness whether to tell Anakin about it or not.
Obi-Wan sat at the breakfast bar, and she poured him a steaming mug of the thick liquid. He took a sip, but he was mostly concentrating on her. She leaned forward across the counter so that they were eye-to-eye. "Hi," she said softly.
Though it was one small word, it made Obi-Wan feel more at ease. Before he could stop himself, he was blurting out everything that came to his mind. "I missed you so much . . . the only thing that I had to hold onto was that I just *knew* someday we'd be together again."
Sabé looked startled and pleased at the same time. "Ditto," she said simply. "And a thousand times over. I've been watching you on the holonets. When you took on Anakin as an apprentice."
"How long have you been living on Coruscant?"
"A few months."
"Then why didn't you come to see me before?" Obi-Wan asked softly, keeping his eyes low, lacking the courage to meet hers.
When Sabé replied, her voice was laced with regret and apology. "I was so busy when I first started working for Palpatine, and I wasn't even sure you were on-planet. Then when I found out you were, I had to gather the courage to contact you. I thought that . . . maybe you didn't remember me. When that courage was gathered, you were off-planet again. I didn't hear about you until Palpatine requested your presence to the Jedi Council."
Obi-Wan heard her words, but only one sentence stood out. He met her eyes boldly. "How could I ever forget you?"
Sabé's eyes flared. "I don't know," she whispered. She shrugged. "I wasn't sure if I meant as much to you as you did . . do . . . to me."
"All that and more," Obi-Wan said honestly. "Do you remember what I said to you during our last conversation on Naboo?"
"Every word," Sabé said solemnly.
"I meant it," Obi-Wan said seriously. "I still mean it today."
A brilliant smile lit up Sabé's face. "Really?" she asked, barely able to believe what was happening to her.
"Really," Obi-Wan confirmed. He leaned across the counter and caught her lips in swift kiss. The momentary joining was sweet and fed their souls with pure happiness. It was a kiss made of three years of longing, of passion and renewed hope.
* * * * *
Not too long after that kiss, the two lovers could be found sitting on Sabé's couch, reminiscing about the past, catching up on the years they missed.
"Do you remember when Panaka caught us in your quarters on the Nubian?" Sabé asked, a burst of laughter lacing her words. "I'll never forget the look on his face!"
Obi-Wan started laughing too. "Well, can you imagine someone like him catching his prize handmaiden pinned beneath the dashing, roguish Jedi?"
"Dashing?" Sabé teased. She shrugged. "Well, if the boot fits."
"Of course I was dashing," Obi-Wan said, not the least bit miffed. "You couldn't resist me."
"I think it was a mutual thing," Sabé said dryly.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan admitted. "Do you still have the lightsaber I gave you?"
"Of course," Sabé said unhesitatingly. "I keep it in a safe place. I've been using it to practice these past few years. If this came to that, I could whip your ass, Jedi-boy."
"I'd like to see you try." Obi-Wan paused. "Do you remember what I said to you when I gave you that lightsaber?"
"You said that the next time we met, you'd teach me how to make my own," Sabé said, the scene unfolding beneath her eyes.
"Exactly."
"Oh, Obi-Wan!" Sabé breathed, a wave of emotion hitting her hard in the breast. "You'd really do that? You won't get in trouble? You have the supplies? How--"
Obi-Wan held up a hand. "Slow down a little bit. Yes, I'd do that. I thought you'd know by now, Sabé, I'd do anything for you. And you can't get in trouble for something the Council doesn't find out about."
Sabé giggled. "Sneaky."
"I do try," Obi-Wan said, making a funny face at her. They both sobered. "So you'd be interested if I offered?"
"Yes."
"And what if I added a bonus."
"And what would that bonus be?"
"Me, continuing to teach you. I think I've gotten better at it since I've had Anakin. You won't believe some of the exasperations I've had to go through with him." He flashed a smile at Sabé. "I don't think I'd mind so much if he was as hot as you."
"Hmm . . . not everyone is as blessed as me, I guess," Sabé said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"I should hope so! You drive the male population insane as it is, and there's only one of you right now," Obi-Wan said gravely.
"I don't think it's the whole male population so much as just you, Obi- Wan," Sabé pointed out.
"All the better," Obi-Wan whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
Sabé let herself be subject to the passion. In a way, it was as if these were their very first kisses. Back on Tatooine, in the Queen's starship, lingering on their minds was the fact that what they were doing was wrong, that they were just humoring themselves. Now, Sabé felt a sense of freedom. She could kiss Obi-Wan as much as she wanted, and he would still be hers. As their pact had gone, they could finally be together. Nothing was in their way.
* * * * *
The next afternoon, Sabé and Obi-Wan could be found in a seperate building altogether, standing nervously in front of an apartment door belonging to none other than Gemina Yrrk. Sabé was the one who had been volunteered to do the knocking, and she was hesitating pointedly. She felt deeply for Gemina. The woman was grieving the loss of Lorcan and was a total mess. Sabé didn't want to waltz in and upset her life again. In two days nonetheless!
Obi-Wan gave her a look, and she gave up. With another calming deep breath, Sabé pressed the buzzer at the door. It took a few moments, and Sabé was so exasperated that she was about to tell Obi-Wan they should come back another time, but finally the doors swished open to reveal a frazzled- looking Gemina Yrrk. Upon recognizing Obi-Wan and Sabé, Gemina's eyes widened frantically.
"H-Hello," she stuttered, sounding as if she wasn't quite sure what she was supposed to do.
Sabé plunged right in. "I'm sorry to bother you again so soon, Mistress Yrrk, but after some research, we're certain that Clemens Lorcan is the culprit. We need to ask you a few questions. Do you know where he would go if in trouble? Anybody he was close with besides yourself?"
Gemina's face paled considerably. "No," she said abruptly. "I-I don't . . . I mean, we weren't that close, Clem and I. Just business partners."
Sabé's suspicion was aroused. She arched an eyebrow perfectly. "You're positive, Gemina?" The other woman nodded. Sabé gave her a smug look. "If that claim is so, then I'm afraid I must point out that it completely contradicts everything that you said yesterday. Now, do you want to tell me what's going on?"
Gemina's eyes flickered behind her into the apartment. Sabé leaned forward in order to get a better look, but Gemina caught onto her and blocked her view pointedly. "Nothing is going on in the least. You're just imagining things. Good-bye." With that, the apartment door closed in the security officer and Jedi's faces.
Sabé stood, dumbfounded, at the door, staring at it and trying to piece together what had just happened. After a moment, she turned around to face Obi-Wan in bewilderment. "Something's seriously wrong," she said gravely.
"Or something is right," Obi-Wan said cryptically, scrutinizing the doors thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it, Sabé. Yesterday that woman was miserable and depressed. I thought that the moment she recognized us she would pounce on us for information about Lorcan's whereabaouts."
Sabé considered Obi-Wan's words, and it all clicked together. She felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. When she spoke, each word came out faster and more excited-sounding than the one before. "Unless she already knows where he is!" She snapped her fingers.
"Exactly," Obi-Wan said matter-of-factly. "Did you get to see inside of her apartment?"
Sabé shook her head. "No. She saw what I was doing and blocked my view."
"Then she was trying to hide something," Obi-Wan concluded. "I got a decent look as to the contents of her apartment."
"What did you see? Do you think Lorcan was in there?" Sabé demanded.
"I can't be sure, but I don't think so. Her belongings were strewn everywhere," Obi-Wan said, obviously hinting at something.
"Do you think she was robbed? Or attacked? Maybe Lorcan came back--"
Obi-Wan interrupted her gently. "It looked like she was . . . packing."
"She was packing and didn't ask about Lorcan, whom she was obsessed with finding yesterday," Sabé said aloud. She smirked. "And what do *you* think happened?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I had it figured out five minutes ago."
"Mr. Hot-Shot Jedi, huh?" Sabé rolled her eyes good-naturedly, then turned serious again. "What are we going to do about this?"
Obi-Wan considered before speaking. "You work in the Supreme Chancellor's security, so I'm going to assume that you can obtain just about any information you want to."
"You're assuming correctly. We'll contact the shuttle lines and ask about any flights going to the Lark system."
"What makes you think that Lorcan would go to his homeworld when he's being hunted? I got the picture that he was a bit more intelligent than to be so obvious."
"It's my intuition," Sabé replied. "If you were in trouble, where would you go?"
Obi-Wan smiled crookedly at her. "The Jedi Temple."
"You see? I'm always right," Sabé boasted, starting to walk back to the elevator.
Obi-Wan followed her. When they got into the elevator, he put a hand on her upper arm. She looked up into his soulful eyes, so intense at that moment. "I guess we make a pretty good team," he said softly, rubbing her arm softly.
Sabé gulped and nodded. "It would appear so." She wasn't quite sure what to say next, but the Fates had already decided for her. The moment ended before either could grasp fully onto it, and Sabé turned away from him to request a floor number.
* * * * *
Obi-Wan and Sabé had split ways after talking to Gemina Yrrk. While Obi-Wan waited in the apartment, he and Anakin looking on the holonet for Lark shuttle times and such, Sabé visited the security head quarters to get copies of any frequencies in Gemina Yrrk's comm unit. Anakin had suggested it once they got back to the apartment, and Sabé had thought it a good idea. Beula and Roth were at a Senate meeting with the Chancellor and Zoilo.
"If she took the latest flight, then she's already gone," Obi-Wan stated matter-of-factly to Anakin as they stared, dumbfounded at the screen before them. "What are we going to do now?"
Anakin clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Are you an idiot, Master? Just because there are shuttles available to get to a system doesn't mean that's the only way to get there. If we're going to follow her, we just have to take a ship. We'll probably get there faster too."
"How could we follow her? We're protecting the Chancellor, Ani."
"There are four of us. I'm sure he can make do with two," Anakin said.
Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed his temples wearily. "We'll have to talk about this later, when all of us are present. This thing just seems to get more complicated with every clue we uncover."
"I know. Isn't it fun?" Anakin asked, grinning.
Obi-Wan gave him a long look, then shook his head. "If only I were young again . . ."
"Oh, come on, Master, you're not *that* old," Anakin said helpfully. "How many years apart are we? About fifteen? That's not that many years."
"When you're twenty seven, you'll agree with me when I say yes it is."
"I suppose I will, but that's a long way off," Anakin said. He stood up suddenly. "Are you hungry?"
"No, but go ahead and make something to eat if you want," Obi-Wan said, realizing that there was nothing left to do but wait for Sabé, Roth, and Beula to get back. He was glad that Anakin had been with him looking at the information. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and his brain didn't seem to be working properly. He was embarrassed that he hadn't thought of using a ship; Anakin must think he's losing mind.
Noises began to come from the kitchen, and Obi-Wan looked back at the holonet in front of him. You could find out anything on the holonet. Especially if you had a Jedi's knack for hacking into things. Obi-Wan took a deep breath of revelation. It had been on his mind since he'd found out Sabé had prominent Jedi skills but hadn't been sent to the Temple.
Why?
He'd asked himself this many times, and he was sure that Sabé had as well. How was he going to begin though? He stared blankly at the screen before him. His mind was still fuzzy. He'd look on the 'net tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.
Obi-Wan shut off the holoviewer and decided to sit at the breakfast bar and wait for Anakin to be done cooking. He realized that he hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet, and his stomach was in strong protest. He could use a Jedi technique to quiet the hunger spells, but he was too tired even for that. When he stumbled into a breakfast bar seat, he layed his head down on the counter, seeking refuge for a few moments.
* * * * *
It was relatively easy to get Yrrk's frequency with Sabé's position. Since she was in the same building, she stopped by Palpatine's office to see if Roth and Beula were there. She knew that they were at a milestone in the investigation, and it would be better if everyone was there. She knew Zoilo was supposedly on the case too, but the man wasn't that intelligent, and she had begun to think of the case as "hers and the Jedi".
"Did the information I looked up for you help?" Bridget asked as soon as she recognized Sabé.
"Immensely. Thank you, Bridget. What time will the Senate meeting adjourne?"
"It shouldn't be too long from now. Why?"
"I need the two Jedi. We have all of this information, and now we have to comb through it." Sabé propped herself up on the counter in front of Bridget, a bright smile on her face. "This is extremely exhilarating. The last time I actually liked being in security was back in my Naboo days. I guess I'm the kind of girl who needs some action."
"Speaking of action . . ." Bridget trailed off meaningfully.
"What?"
"You and that Jedi you came in with yesterday seemed very . . . um . . . *chummy*," Bridget said, grinning at Sabé. "Since when do we keep secrets from each other?"
"Oh! After I tell you, I have to remember to comm Padmé. She'll be dying to know," Sabé said reflectively, mentally trying to cram it into her brain to remember.
"Dying to know about what?" Bridget prodded, looking even more eager now that she thought she was onto some gossip about one of her close friends.
"Remember my Battle of Theed guy?" Sabé asked. "I think I've told you about him."
"The one who promised to love you forever?" Bridget asked dreamily.
"Yeah that one," Sabé said. She raised an eyebrow at Bridget, waiting for it to click together.
"Oh!" Bridget said suddenly, her jaw dropping. "You mean to tell me that that Jedi Knight you were in with yesterday is him?"
"Yes," Sabé said. She sighed. "He's just as wonderful as I remember, and things seem so much easer now. I was but a child when we last parted, and I feel so much older now."
"Three years," Bridget reminded her.
"I've done a lot of growing up!" Sabé laughed. She sobered. "He came over to my apartment last night."
"Oh, do tell," Bridget said eagerly.
"It was wonderful. At first it was really awkward, you know? But then we just started talking, and everything came out."
"And then . . ."
"And then he kissed me."
"Sabé!" Bridget squealed. "That's amazing! What did you do?"
"I kissed him back, you idiot. What else would I do? Then we started talking about . . . um . . . well, we were remembering and stuff, you know? Then we kissed again. And again. And again . . ." Sabé smiled to herself, the memories coming over her in a rush. "Oh, I love him just as much as I did before. Isn't it amazing how our feelings haven't changed after being apart for so long?"
"Amazing," Bridget agreed dead-pannedly. "And completely unfair. I haven't yet met a guy like your dream man." Bridget sighed. "But I figure since you were lucky enough to find him, maybe I will be too."
Sabé nodded encouragingly. "You will. And everything will be perfect. Just as it is for me now. I just know that everything is going to turn out right this time. Everything will fall into place for Obi-Wan and I."
At that point, the doors opened automatically, and four very familiar faces walked through. Palpatine looked happy as he hummed along; Zoilo looked . . . placid, as always; the two Jedi trailing after them looked miserable and bored.
Sabé jumped off of the counter and stood up straight. "Hello, Chancellor. How has your day been?"
"It's been simply exquisite so far," Palpatine said pleasantly. "How have you and the Jedi been fairing?"
Sabé thought about telling him everything, but some inner intuition stopped her. "We're coming along nicely. We have a lead, and we're trying to figure out where he disappeared to at the moment."
"Such a sweet, intelligent girl," Palpatine murmured, looking at her with proud, ice blue eyes. It seemed that the only time he allowed a little bit of real, true emotion was when he looked at Sabé. The latter hadn't noticed this yet; to most people's eyes, Palpatine was always a feeling, compassionate man, and Sabé was no exception.
"Would you pardon Jedi Sagiv and Guiseppa?" Sabé asked. "Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I need them in some research we're planning out this evening."
"No, that's fine, Sabé. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Sabé said as he and Zoilo went into his office. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good bye, Bridge, we've got to go."
"All right. I'll see you tomorrow," Bridget said. Just as they were going out the door, she called out, "Does this Obi-Wan Kenobi fellow have a brother?"
Sabé knew she was bright red when she slapped her hand on the security panel to shut the doors. She pretended not hear Bridget and kept on walking, ignoring the snickers she heard coming from Roth's direction.
* * * * *
Sabé, Roth, and Beula entered the Jedi's apartment to see Anakin and Obi- Wan sitting at the breakfast bar; the former eating something out of a bowl good-naturedly while the latter snored softly, head resting on his arm. Sabé resisted the urge to laugh.
"You're back!" Anakin cried. Apparently the news wasn't important enough for him to get up and stop eating though. "We didn't uncover very much, but we do know that this Yrrk woman is already on her way there."
"How long has he been asleep?" Roth asked, pointing at Obi-Wan.
"I don't know. Long enough."
"Why don't you wake him up, Sabé?" Roth asked slyly. "I'm sure he'd much rather see your face first thing than any of ours."
Sabé scowled at him, fighting with herself over blushing. She poked Obi-Wan hard in the back, and he jerked awake. She smiled sweetly at him. "Rise and shine."
Obi-Wan glared at her, but sat up straight. He swiveled around in his stool to see Beula and Roth in the main living room. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Sabé answered as she hoisted herself up on the counter beside Obi-Wan. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a data disk. "This has Ms. Gemina Yrrk's comm unit recordings from the past twenty four hours."
"Why do you need that?" Roth asked. He kicked the floor. "That really blows. Beula and I are stuck baby-sitting the Chancellor while you guys get to go have fun."
"I didn't think of it as fun," Obi-Wan said. "I'm beat."
"Well that's what happens when you sneak out of the apartment in the dead of the night to visit your girlfriend," Roth snapped.
Obi-Wan and Sabé both turned cherry red. "W-What do you mean?" Obi-Wan stuttered, trying his best to play cool.
"Maybe not all of us were asleep last night," Roth answered simply. He sighed. "Just show us the disks, Sabé."
Sabé nodded numbly. She jumped off of the counter and went to the comm unit by the door to stick in the disk. There was a bit of fuzzy reception on the screen but then it cleared to show the face of a young-looking woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, an oval-shaped face, and super model looks, all wrapped up in the type of headdress Padmé used to wear. The conversation began, and though you could hear Gemina, her face wasn't available to see.
With each passing second, the occupants of the room were either smug or shocked. Most of it, they had already figured out, but there were quite a few things they didn't know. Lorcan seemed true in his beliefs of Chancellor Palpatine. Though Sabé knew the suggestions were made in conviction, she couldn't quite believe them. It seemed too far fetched.
The disk ended, and she took it out again. She folded her arms across her stomach and turned around. "Well, now we know what's going on."
"And we have proof," Roth added. "That oughta get Lorcan and maybe even that Laura woman into a trial. She knows about Lorcan and she's hiding him."
"And we know what we need to do too," Anakin added. "We just don't know who's going to do it."
"Beula and I will go," Roth said unhesitatingly. "If Obi-Wan or Anakin use their clearance codes, they'll be detected immediately, and it will be all over the holonews. We want to keep this quiet." Roth smiled and shrugged. "Besides, Beula and I want to have some fun once in a while."
Obi-Wan let out a deep breath. "That does make the most sense," he admitted.
"When will you leave?" Anakin asked, looking regretful. "You're coming back right."
"Of course we're coming back."
"You're sure?" Anakin asked, his brow wrinkled in worry.
"Why wouldn't we come back?" Beula asked.
Anakin shrugged. "Don't know."
"We'd better get going as soon as possible," Roth said. He turned to Sabé. "Does the Senate have any ship we can use? It would be easier and faster and quieter instead of getting mine from the Temple. I can still use my clearance codes."
"Yeah," Sabé said, feeling a little numb. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly.
"Great. Come on, Beula, let's start packing."
* * * * *
AN: I just wanted to comment that I saw the mistake in chapter two that several pointed out. You know, the one where Sabé's hair was up, then two paragraphs later Obi-Wan commented on how it was down. I was laughing for quite awhile. It's better than the time I put 'peach offering' instead of 'peace offering' at least.
I know I always say I'm sorry that I never update, but I have some news that might make you feel a little better. I have all but the last two chapters for this fic already written. It'll just be a matter of getting the chapters to Ketch, who looks over plot for me. Those of you who are concerned about The Right Path Again. There is only one last chapter for the entire fic. I've been going over it again and again because I want it to be perfect. I should be satisfied within the next few days. Let's hope.
"I made some caff, do you want any?" Sabé asked as she motioned Obi-Wan into her apartment.
"Sounds good," Obi-Wan said politely when, in all reality, he just wanted to spend time with Sabé. He decided that the drink would be a way to "break the ice".
Sabé's apartment was in the same design as the one he and the other Jedi were residing in, but she had it decorated differently. It seemed homely and had a lot of Nubian flare to it. He noticed she had quite a few holos of Padmé and the rest of the handmaidens. It flickered across his consciousness whether to tell Anakin about it or not.
Obi-Wan sat at the breakfast bar, and she poured him a steaming mug of the thick liquid. He took a sip, but he was mostly concentrating on her. She leaned forward across the counter so that they were eye-to-eye. "Hi," she said softly.
Though it was one small word, it made Obi-Wan feel more at ease. Before he could stop himself, he was blurting out everything that came to his mind. "I missed you so much . . . the only thing that I had to hold onto was that I just *knew* someday we'd be together again."
Sabé looked startled and pleased at the same time. "Ditto," she said simply. "And a thousand times over. I've been watching you on the holonets. When you took on Anakin as an apprentice."
"How long have you been living on Coruscant?"
"A few months."
"Then why didn't you come to see me before?" Obi-Wan asked softly, keeping his eyes low, lacking the courage to meet hers.
When Sabé replied, her voice was laced with regret and apology. "I was so busy when I first started working for Palpatine, and I wasn't even sure you were on-planet. Then when I found out you were, I had to gather the courage to contact you. I thought that . . . maybe you didn't remember me. When that courage was gathered, you were off-planet again. I didn't hear about you until Palpatine requested your presence to the Jedi Council."
Obi-Wan heard her words, but only one sentence stood out. He met her eyes boldly. "How could I ever forget you?"
Sabé's eyes flared. "I don't know," she whispered. She shrugged. "I wasn't sure if I meant as much to you as you did . . do . . . to me."
"All that and more," Obi-Wan said honestly. "Do you remember what I said to you during our last conversation on Naboo?"
"Every word," Sabé said solemnly.
"I meant it," Obi-Wan said seriously. "I still mean it today."
A brilliant smile lit up Sabé's face. "Really?" she asked, barely able to believe what was happening to her.
"Really," Obi-Wan confirmed. He leaned across the counter and caught her lips in swift kiss. The momentary joining was sweet and fed their souls with pure happiness. It was a kiss made of three years of longing, of passion and renewed hope.
* * * * *
Not too long after that kiss, the two lovers could be found sitting on Sabé's couch, reminiscing about the past, catching up on the years they missed.
"Do you remember when Panaka caught us in your quarters on the Nubian?" Sabé asked, a burst of laughter lacing her words. "I'll never forget the look on his face!"
Obi-Wan started laughing too. "Well, can you imagine someone like him catching his prize handmaiden pinned beneath the dashing, roguish Jedi?"
"Dashing?" Sabé teased. She shrugged. "Well, if the boot fits."
"Of course I was dashing," Obi-Wan said, not the least bit miffed. "You couldn't resist me."
"I think it was a mutual thing," Sabé said dryly.
"Perhaps," Obi-Wan admitted. "Do you still have the lightsaber I gave you?"
"Of course," Sabé said unhesitatingly. "I keep it in a safe place. I've been using it to practice these past few years. If this came to that, I could whip your ass, Jedi-boy."
"I'd like to see you try." Obi-Wan paused. "Do you remember what I said to you when I gave you that lightsaber?"
"You said that the next time we met, you'd teach me how to make my own," Sabé said, the scene unfolding beneath her eyes.
"Exactly."
"Oh, Obi-Wan!" Sabé breathed, a wave of emotion hitting her hard in the breast. "You'd really do that? You won't get in trouble? You have the supplies? How--"
Obi-Wan held up a hand. "Slow down a little bit. Yes, I'd do that. I thought you'd know by now, Sabé, I'd do anything for you. And you can't get in trouble for something the Council doesn't find out about."
Sabé giggled. "Sneaky."
"I do try," Obi-Wan said, making a funny face at her. They both sobered. "So you'd be interested if I offered?"
"Yes."
"And what if I added a bonus."
"And what would that bonus be?"
"Me, continuing to teach you. I think I've gotten better at it since I've had Anakin. You won't believe some of the exasperations I've had to go through with him." He flashed a smile at Sabé. "I don't think I'd mind so much if he was as hot as you."
"Hmm . . . not everyone is as blessed as me, I guess," Sabé said, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
"I should hope so! You drive the male population insane as it is, and there's only one of you right now," Obi-Wan said gravely.
"I don't think it's the whole male population so much as just you, Obi- Wan," Sabé pointed out.
"All the better," Obi-Wan whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
Sabé let herself be subject to the passion. In a way, it was as if these were their very first kisses. Back on Tatooine, in the Queen's starship, lingering on their minds was the fact that what they were doing was wrong, that they were just humoring themselves. Now, Sabé felt a sense of freedom. She could kiss Obi-Wan as much as she wanted, and he would still be hers. As their pact had gone, they could finally be together. Nothing was in their way.
* * * * *
The next afternoon, Sabé and Obi-Wan could be found in a seperate building altogether, standing nervously in front of an apartment door belonging to none other than Gemina Yrrk. Sabé was the one who had been volunteered to do the knocking, and she was hesitating pointedly. She felt deeply for Gemina. The woman was grieving the loss of Lorcan and was a total mess. Sabé didn't want to waltz in and upset her life again. In two days nonetheless!
Obi-Wan gave her a look, and she gave up. With another calming deep breath, Sabé pressed the buzzer at the door. It took a few moments, and Sabé was so exasperated that she was about to tell Obi-Wan they should come back another time, but finally the doors swished open to reveal a frazzled- looking Gemina Yrrk. Upon recognizing Obi-Wan and Sabé, Gemina's eyes widened frantically.
"H-Hello," she stuttered, sounding as if she wasn't quite sure what she was supposed to do.
Sabé plunged right in. "I'm sorry to bother you again so soon, Mistress Yrrk, but after some research, we're certain that Clemens Lorcan is the culprit. We need to ask you a few questions. Do you know where he would go if in trouble? Anybody he was close with besides yourself?"
Gemina's face paled considerably. "No," she said abruptly. "I-I don't . . . I mean, we weren't that close, Clem and I. Just business partners."
Sabé's suspicion was aroused. She arched an eyebrow perfectly. "You're positive, Gemina?" The other woman nodded. Sabé gave her a smug look. "If that claim is so, then I'm afraid I must point out that it completely contradicts everything that you said yesterday. Now, do you want to tell me what's going on?"
Gemina's eyes flickered behind her into the apartment. Sabé leaned forward in order to get a better look, but Gemina caught onto her and blocked her view pointedly. "Nothing is going on in the least. You're just imagining things. Good-bye." With that, the apartment door closed in the security officer and Jedi's faces.
Sabé stood, dumbfounded, at the door, staring at it and trying to piece together what had just happened. After a moment, she turned around to face Obi-Wan in bewilderment. "Something's seriously wrong," she said gravely.
"Or something is right," Obi-Wan said cryptically, scrutinizing the doors thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it, Sabé. Yesterday that woman was miserable and depressed. I thought that the moment she recognized us she would pounce on us for information about Lorcan's whereabaouts."
Sabé considered Obi-Wan's words, and it all clicked together. She felt stupid for not realizing it sooner. When she spoke, each word came out faster and more excited-sounding than the one before. "Unless she already knows where he is!" She snapped her fingers.
"Exactly," Obi-Wan said matter-of-factly. "Did you get to see inside of her apartment?"
Sabé shook her head. "No. She saw what I was doing and blocked my view."
"Then she was trying to hide something," Obi-Wan concluded. "I got a decent look as to the contents of her apartment."
"What did you see? Do you think Lorcan was in there?" Sabé demanded.
"I can't be sure, but I don't think so. Her belongings were strewn everywhere," Obi-Wan said, obviously hinting at something.
"Do you think she was robbed? Or attacked? Maybe Lorcan came back--"
Obi-Wan interrupted her gently. "It looked like she was . . . packing."
"She was packing and didn't ask about Lorcan, whom she was obsessed with finding yesterday," Sabé said aloud. She smirked. "And what do *you* think happened?"
Obi-Wan smiled. "I had it figured out five minutes ago."
"Mr. Hot-Shot Jedi, huh?" Sabé rolled her eyes good-naturedly, then turned serious again. "What are we going to do about this?"
Obi-Wan considered before speaking. "You work in the Supreme Chancellor's security, so I'm going to assume that you can obtain just about any information you want to."
"You're assuming correctly. We'll contact the shuttle lines and ask about any flights going to the Lark system."
"What makes you think that Lorcan would go to his homeworld when he's being hunted? I got the picture that he was a bit more intelligent than to be so obvious."
"It's my intuition," Sabé replied. "If you were in trouble, where would you go?"
Obi-Wan smiled crookedly at her. "The Jedi Temple."
"You see? I'm always right," Sabé boasted, starting to walk back to the elevator.
Obi-Wan followed her. When they got into the elevator, he put a hand on her upper arm. She looked up into his soulful eyes, so intense at that moment. "I guess we make a pretty good team," he said softly, rubbing her arm softly.
Sabé gulped and nodded. "It would appear so." She wasn't quite sure what to say next, but the Fates had already decided for her. The moment ended before either could grasp fully onto it, and Sabé turned away from him to request a floor number.
* * * * *
Obi-Wan and Sabé had split ways after talking to Gemina Yrrk. While Obi-Wan waited in the apartment, he and Anakin looking on the holonet for Lark shuttle times and such, Sabé visited the security head quarters to get copies of any frequencies in Gemina Yrrk's comm unit. Anakin had suggested it once they got back to the apartment, and Sabé had thought it a good idea. Beula and Roth were at a Senate meeting with the Chancellor and Zoilo.
"If she took the latest flight, then she's already gone," Obi-Wan stated matter-of-factly to Anakin as they stared, dumbfounded at the screen before them. "What are we going to do now?"
Anakin clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Are you an idiot, Master? Just because there are shuttles available to get to a system doesn't mean that's the only way to get there. If we're going to follow her, we just have to take a ship. We'll probably get there faster too."
"How could we follow her? We're protecting the Chancellor, Ani."
"There are four of us. I'm sure he can make do with two," Anakin said.
Obi-Wan sighed and rubbed his temples wearily. "We'll have to talk about this later, when all of us are present. This thing just seems to get more complicated with every clue we uncover."
"I know. Isn't it fun?" Anakin asked, grinning.
Obi-Wan gave him a long look, then shook his head. "If only I were young again . . ."
"Oh, come on, Master, you're not *that* old," Anakin said helpfully. "How many years apart are we? About fifteen? That's not that many years."
"When you're twenty seven, you'll agree with me when I say yes it is."
"I suppose I will, but that's a long way off," Anakin said. He stood up suddenly. "Are you hungry?"
"No, but go ahead and make something to eat if you want," Obi-Wan said, realizing that there was nothing left to do but wait for Sabé, Roth, and Beula to get back. He was glad that Anakin had been with him looking at the information. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and his brain didn't seem to be working properly. He was embarrassed that he hadn't thought of using a ship; Anakin must think he's losing mind.
Noises began to come from the kitchen, and Obi-Wan looked back at the holonet in front of him. You could find out anything on the holonet. Especially if you had a Jedi's knack for hacking into things. Obi-Wan took a deep breath of revelation. It had been on his mind since he'd found out Sabé had prominent Jedi skills but hadn't been sent to the Temple.
Why?
He'd asked himself this many times, and he was sure that Sabé had as well. How was he going to begin though? He stared blankly at the screen before him. His mind was still fuzzy. He'd look on the 'net tomorrow, after a good night's sleep.
Obi-Wan shut off the holoviewer and decided to sit at the breakfast bar and wait for Anakin to be done cooking. He realized that he hadn't had breakfast or lunch yet, and his stomach was in strong protest. He could use a Jedi technique to quiet the hunger spells, but he was too tired even for that. When he stumbled into a breakfast bar seat, he layed his head down on the counter, seeking refuge for a few moments.
* * * * *
It was relatively easy to get Yrrk's frequency with Sabé's position. Since she was in the same building, she stopped by Palpatine's office to see if Roth and Beula were there. She knew that they were at a milestone in the investigation, and it would be better if everyone was there. She knew Zoilo was supposedly on the case too, but the man wasn't that intelligent, and she had begun to think of the case as "hers and the Jedi".
"Did the information I looked up for you help?" Bridget asked as soon as she recognized Sabé.
"Immensely. Thank you, Bridget. What time will the Senate meeting adjourne?"
"It shouldn't be too long from now. Why?"
"I need the two Jedi. We have all of this information, and now we have to comb through it." Sabé propped herself up on the counter in front of Bridget, a bright smile on her face. "This is extremely exhilarating. The last time I actually liked being in security was back in my Naboo days. I guess I'm the kind of girl who needs some action."
"Speaking of action . . ." Bridget trailed off meaningfully.
"What?"
"You and that Jedi you came in with yesterday seemed very . . . um . . . *chummy*," Bridget said, grinning at Sabé. "Since when do we keep secrets from each other?"
"Oh! After I tell you, I have to remember to comm Padmé. She'll be dying to know," Sabé said reflectively, mentally trying to cram it into her brain to remember.
"Dying to know about what?" Bridget prodded, looking even more eager now that she thought she was onto some gossip about one of her close friends.
"Remember my Battle of Theed guy?" Sabé asked. "I think I've told you about him."
"The one who promised to love you forever?" Bridget asked dreamily.
"Yeah that one," Sabé said. She raised an eyebrow at Bridget, waiting for it to click together.
"Oh!" Bridget said suddenly, her jaw dropping. "You mean to tell me that that Jedi Knight you were in with yesterday is him?"
"Yes," Sabé said. She sighed. "He's just as wonderful as I remember, and things seem so much easer now. I was but a child when we last parted, and I feel so much older now."
"Three years," Bridget reminded her.
"I've done a lot of growing up!" Sabé laughed. She sobered. "He came over to my apartment last night."
"Oh, do tell," Bridget said eagerly.
"It was wonderful. At first it was really awkward, you know? But then we just started talking, and everything came out."
"And then . . ."
"And then he kissed me."
"Sabé!" Bridget squealed. "That's amazing! What did you do?"
"I kissed him back, you idiot. What else would I do? Then we started talking about . . . um . . . well, we were remembering and stuff, you know? Then we kissed again. And again. And again . . ." Sabé smiled to herself, the memories coming over her in a rush. "Oh, I love him just as much as I did before. Isn't it amazing how our feelings haven't changed after being apart for so long?"
"Amazing," Bridget agreed dead-pannedly. "And completely unfair. I haven't yet met a guy like your dream man." Bridget sighed. "But I figure since you were lucky enough to find him, maybe I will be too."
Sabé nodded encouragingly. "You will. And everything will be perfect. Just as it is for me now. I just know that everything is going to turn out right this time. Everything will fall into place for Obi-Wan and I."
At that point, the doors opened automatically, and four very familiar faces walked through. Palpatine looked happy as he hummed along; Zoilo looked . . . placid, as always; the two Jedi trailing after them looked miserable and bored.
Sabé jumped off of the counter and stood up straight. "Hello, Chancellor. How has your day been?"
"It's been simply exquisite so far," Palpatine said pleasantly. "How have you and the Jedi been fairing?"
Sabé thought about telling him everything, but some inner intuition stopped her. "We're coming along nicely. We have a lead, and we're trying to figure out where he disappeared to at the moment."
"Such a sweet, intelligent girl," Palpatine murmured, looking at her with proud, ice blue eyes. It seemed that the only time he allowed a little bit of real, true emotion was when he looked at Sabé. The latter hadn't noticed this yet; to most people's eyes, Palpatine was always a feeling, compassionate man, and Sabé was no exception.
"Would you pardon Jedi Sagiv and Guiseppa?" Sabé asked. "Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I need them in some research we're planning out this evening."
"No, that's fine, Sabé. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Chancellor," Sabé said as he and Zoilo went into his office. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Good bye, Bridge, we've got to go."
"All right. I'll see you tomorrow," Bridget said. Just as they were going out the door, she called out, "Does this Obi-Wan Kenobi fellow have a brother?"
Sabé knew she was bright red when she slapped her hand on the security panel to shut the doors. She pretended not hear Bridget and kept on walking, ignoring the snickers she heard coming from Roth's direction.
* * * * *
Sabé, Roth, and Beula entered the Jedi's apartment to see Anakin and Obi- Wan sitting at the breakfast bar; the former eating something out of a bowl good-naturedly while the latter snored softly, head resting on his arm. Sabé resisted the urge to laugh.
"You're back!" Anakin cried. Apparently the news wasn't important enough for him to get up and stop eating though. "We didn't uncover very much, but we do know that this Yrrk woman is already on her way there."
"How long has he been asleep?" Roth asked, pointing at Obi-Wan.
"I don't know. Long enough."
"Why don't you wake him up, Sabé?" Roth asked slyly. "I'm sure he'd much rather see your face first thing than any of ours."
Sabé scowled at him, fighting with herself over blushing. She poked Obi-Wan hard in the back, and he jerked awake. She smiled sweetly at him. "Rise and shine."
Obi-Wan glared at her, but sat up straight. He swiveled around in his stool to see Beula and Roth in the main living room. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Sabé answered as she hoisted herself up on the counter beside Obi-Wan. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a data disk. "This has Ms. Gemina Yrrk's comm unit recordings from the past twenty four hours."
"Why do you need that?" Roth asked. He kicked the floor. "That really blows. Beula and I are stuck baby-sitting the Chancellor while you guys get to go have fun."
"I didn't think of it as fun," Obi-Wan said. "I'm beat."
"Well that's what happens when you sneak out of the apartment in the dead of the night to visit your girlfriend," Roth snapped.
Obi-Wan and Sabé both turned cherry red. "W-What do you mean?" Obi-Wan stuttered, trying his best to play cool.
"Maybe not all of us were asleep last night," Roth answered simply. He sighed. "Just show us the disks, Sabé."
Sabé nodded numbly. She jumped off of the counter and went to the comm unit by the door to stick in the disk. There was a bit of fuzzy reception on the screen but then it cleared to show the face of a young-looking woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, an oval-shaped face, and super model looks, all wrapped up in the type of headdress Padmé used to wear. The conversation began, and though you could hear Gemina, her face wasn't available to see.
With each passing second, the occupants of the room were either smug or shocked. Most of it, they had already figured out, but there were quite a few things they didn't know. Lorcan seemed true in his beliefs of Chancellor Palpatine. Though Sabé knew the suggestions were made in conviction, she couldn't quite believe them. It seemed too far fetched.
The disk ended, and she took it out again. She folded her arms across her stomach and turned around. "Well, now we know what's going on."
"And we have proof," Roth added. "That oughta get Lorcan and maybe even that Laura woman into a trial. She knows about Lorcan and she's hiding him."
"And we know what we need to do too," Anakin added. "We just don't know who's going to do it."
"Beula and I will go," Roth said unhesitatingly. "If Obi-Wan or Anakin use their clearance codes, they'll be detected immediately, and it will be all over the holonews. We want to keep this quiet." Roth smiled and shrugged. "Besides, Beula and I want to have some fun once in a while."
Obi-Wan let out a deep breath. "That does make the most sense," he admitted.
"When will you leave?" Anakin asked, looking regretful. "You're coming back right."
"Of course we're coming back."
"You're sure?" Anakin asked, his brow wrinkled in worry.
"Why wouldn't we come back?" Beula asked.
Anakin shrugged. "Don't know."
"We'd better get going as soon as possible," Roth said. He turned to Sabé. "Does the Senate have any ship we can use? It would be easier and faster and quieter instead of getting mine from the Temple. I can still use my clearance codes."
"Yeah," Sabé said, feeling a little numb. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly.
"Great. Come on, Beula, let's start packing."
* * * * *
AN: I just wanted to comment that I saw the mistake in chapter two that several pointed out. You know, the one where Sabé's hair was up, then two paragraphs later Obi-Wan commented on how it was down. I was laughing for quite awhile. It's better than the time I put 'peach offering' instead of 'peace offering' at least.
I know I always say I'm sorry that I never update, but I have some news that might make you feel a little better. I have all but the last two chapters for this fic already written. It'll just be a matter of getting the chapters to Ketch, who looks over plot for me. Those of you who are concerned about The Right Path Again. There is only one last chapter for the entire fic. I've been going over it again and again because I want it to be perfect. I should be satisfied within the next few days. Let's hope.