Here's a long chapter for you! Enjoy!

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Darth Vader stood in the shuttle bay of his Star Destroyer, watching the Emperor's shuttle land. He pushed down his irritation beneath his shields. This would just be another delay in finding Obi-Wan.

Sidious walked down the ramp of his shuttle. "I came to see how things were going out here firsthand. Progress report?"

Vader fell into step with his master. "Six Outer Rim planets are now firmly under our control. Two more are close. We are in the process of setting up garrisons there."

"Good. I expect all of the Outer Rim planets to be under our control within another year."

"Yes, Master."

"I would like an office for my temporary headquarters."

Vader tried to hide his alarm. How long is he planning to stay? "Of course, Master. I will have your office readied quickly."

The Emperor walked to the bridge with a smile. He had sensed Vader's alarm at the thought of him staying long-term. He stopped in front of a large window and stared out. I know you're out there, Obi-Wan. Sidious stretched out his senses, searching for even a glimmer of Obi-Wan's bright Force signature.

Sidious stretched even further. He was completely focused. He felt a little something… Could it be? His focus tightened. He felt the whisper of a familiar, beautiful presence. He focused even tighter…

"Your office is ready, Master." Vader had come up beside him.

The Emperor's focus was shattered. The whisper was gone. A fire lit up inside the Emperor's eyes as he turned to Vader. "Thank you, Lord Vader."

Vader led his master down the hallway in confusion. What did I do now? He'd seen the blazing anger in his master's eyes. It almost seemed as if he'd interrupted something. A search, perhaps? Was his master out here searching for Obi-Wan? Did he have some reason to believe that Obi-Wan was out here in the Outer Rim?

A glimmer of hope surged through Vader as he stopped in front of a door. "Here you are, Master."

Sidious turned and looked at Vader as though he were an insect. "I do not wish to be disturbed."

"Of course not, Master." Vader walked away cursing under his breath. His master had never looked at Obi-Wan that way! If Obi-Wan is here in the Outer Rim, I MUST find him first!

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Padme sat in the doorway of the hut, watching Obi-Wan. He was a little ways away, meditating in the dawn's growing light. She had enjoyed watching the sunrise and she was now enjoying watching her husband. She noticed that he suddenly seemed to lose his concentration. His hand flew up to his head.

Padme got up and ran over to her husband. "What is it, Obi?" She knelt down next to him and took his hand in hers.

Obi-Wan looked at her, alarm clouding his eyes. "I felt him, Padme. I felt the Emperor."

Padme's heart sunk into her stomach. "But how?"

"Our mutual mind probes must have connected us in some way. He's near. He's searching for me."

Padme felt the cold fingers of fear grab at her heart. "If you've sensed him, then that must mean that he's sensed you!"

"Maybe not, Hon. I believe that this is a warning from the Force. I don't think Sidious has sensed me as fully as I've sensed him. I'm going to have to shield myself as heavily as I can."

"But for how long? Won't that take a lot out of you?"

"I'll do what I must for as long as I must. I won't let him find us. I won't let him find you."

Padme threw herself in Obi-Wan's arms. "It isn't me he's after, it's you! He's never going to stop looking for you – especially if he feels he's close!"

"I won't let him find me. If I can shield myself enough, he won't be able to pinpoint my location."

Padme pulled back to look her husband in the eyes. "That's a big 'if,' Babe. I don't care what happens to me anymore. I really don't. All I care about you. I can't bear the thought of you being in Sidious' clutches again!"

Obi-Wan pulled his wife back into his arms. "YOU may not care what happens to you, but I do! I'll die before I allow anyone else to hurt you."

"No!" Padme said it with such vehemence that Obi-Wan pulled away from her in surprise. Determination shone in her eyes. "You will NOT die for me, Obi."

Obi-Wan decided that it was best to change the subject. "Come on, Hon, let's get inside." Even as they walked, he worked to build up his shielding. It would take a lot of energy to keep up the kind of shielding necessary to keep Sidious from sensing him. But he would do it. He HAD to do it!

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Sidious sat down in his chair and turned to face the window. I know that was you, Obi-Wan. He stretched out again with his senses. The contact before had been so fleeting, he hadn't been able to determine where it was located. He stretched out further, focusing intently. Nothing. He stretched out even further. Nothing.

Sidious slammed his fist down on the arm of his chair in frustration. If that worthless excuse for an apprentice hadn't interrupted me, I could have pinpointed Obi-Wan's location! And now, it was as if Obi-Wan had been alerted to Sidious' presence and was shielding himself. Could Obi-Wan have sensed me? That would mean that they had a connection in the Force.

Sidious concentrated again on his search. He was more positive than ever that Obi-Wan was meant to be his apprentice. No, more than that, he was meant to be his son.

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Obi-Wan lay awake in their bed. He was exhausted, but didn't want to sleep. It had been two weeks since he'd first sensed Sidious. Keeping up his heavy mental shields was taking its toll. He was now scared that because of his mental fatigue, he would accidentally let his mental shields slip while sleeping.

Obi-Wan looked down at his sleeping wife. He knew what he needed to do, he just had to steel himself to actually do it. Padme had been right. Sidious would never stop searching for him as long as he knew he was close. Eventually, Obi-Wan's mental shields would crack. He couldn't keep them up indefinitely. He HAD to protect Padme and Luke. He would NOT endanger them by staying here. He had to leave Tatooine.

Obi-Wan carefully crawled out of bed. He pulled out a small pre-packed suitcase from under the bed. He quickly put on his clothes and his boots and clipped his lightsaber onto his belt. He placed the note he'd written Padme on his pillow. He gazed down at her, quickly trying to memorize her beautiful face. He then turned and walked out of the hut, unshed tears glistening in his eyes.

As Obi-Wan made his way to the cruiser hidden in the cave, he prayed that someday Padme would be able to forgive him for leaving her this way.

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The next morning, Padme blinked her eyes against the sunlight streaming into the bedroom. She stretched and turned to give her husband a 'good morning' kiss. She shot upright as she found not her husband, but a note. She grabbed the note with a shaking hand, dread flowing through her.

My Dearest Padme,

By the time you read this, I will be a safe distance from Tatooine. I can feel my strength weakening. I won't be able to keep up these mental shields for much longer. You were right, my love, Sidious will not stop searching for me. I will not put you or Luke in danger by remaining any longer. You and he are my first consideration. I will draw Sidious away from Tatooine. Please don't try and come after me. Stay there and stay safe! I truly hope that you will be able to forgive me for leaving you. Please know that I love you more than I could ever express. You mean more to me than my life. Knowing that you are safe will be enough for me.

Love Always,

Your Husband

Tears flowed down Padme's face. Her worst nightmare had come true. She covered her face with her hands and cried. She laid her head on her husband's pillow, squeezing it tightly. When the tears finally stopped, Padme sat up numbly. A picture of Vader popped into her head. Her breath hissed out between her teeth. HE was the cause of ALL of this! HE was the cause of all the horrors in the galaxy. HE was the cause of all her pain. She hated him like she'd never hated anyone before.

Padme got out of bed. Determination was etched in her movements. She was going to get her husband back! She would not allow the Dark Side to rob her and Obi-Wan of anymore happiness. She quickly put on her clothes and her blond wig. She grabbed what was left of the money Bail had given them. She also took the blaster Obi-Wan had given her. She took one last look around her home. Her eyes fell on the picture of her and Obi-Wan on their wedding night. New tears shone in her eyes as she strode out towards her speeder bike. You are NOT leaving me, Obi-Wan Kenobi!

Padme didn't really know what she would do, but she did know who's counsel she would seek…

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Obi-Wan settled himself into his small motel room on Tantiv V. He sat down on the bed and prepared for what he was about to do. He shivered at the memory of his imprisonment by Sidious a year and a half ago. Here he was about to voluntarily enter into it again. He took a deep breath as he allowed a crack to form in his mental shielding. He also made it appear like he was struggling to seal the crack. He hoped that the Emperor wouldn't take long to track him down. The sooner the attention was focused on him here, the safer Padme and Luke would be.

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Sidious stood up like a shot. He gripped the wall beside the window as he focused towards the light he sensed. Yes, there was a crack in Obi-Wan's shielding! He stretched out further. He could sense Obi-Wan working to seal the crack. Oh, no you don't, Obi-Wan. He honed in closer to the light shining through the crack. Sidious turned and grabbed his chart of the system. He closed his eyes as he continued to reach out for Obi-Wan's presence. His finger roamed the chart, moving a little further out, a little bit more…There! Tantiv V!

Sidious hit the com button. "Bridge. This is the Emperor. Set a course for Tantiv V, maximum speed."

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Obi-Wan lay back on the bed. He could sense that the Emperor had detected the crack in his shielding. It wouldn't be long now. He allowed another small crack to form in his shielding. Once the Emperor arrived at Tantiv V, he would be able to hone in on Obi-Wan's exact location.

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Sidious walked over to the ramp of his shuttle. A team of Stormtroopers was awaiting him. "Once we're on our way to the surface, I will be able to detect Kenobi's exact location. You will NOT hurt him, is that understood?"

The lead trooper nodded his head. "Understood, Sir."

"Very well. Let us go." The Emperor quickly walked up the ramp into the shuttle. His heart was pounding in his chest. He was surprised at the excitement he felt. Soon, Obi-Wan would be back by his side!

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Obi-Wan was sitting on the edge of his bed. He could sense the Emperor was very near. He could also sense the man's excitement. He's excited to have me back. Obi-Wan still couldn't believe that this was the Sith Master who was feeling these things. He readied himself, calming his breathing. His lightsaber was on the nightstand beside the bed.

Obi-Wan heard the sound of footsteps heading towards his room. He calmly watched as his door was disintegrated and Stormtroopers ran in, aiming their blaster rifles at him. He sat there, almost looking nonchalant, as the Emperor walked into the room.

The Emperor smiled. "So we meet again, Obi-Wan." The man before him looked so much younger, almost like the brand new Jedi Knight he'd greeted back on Naboo about twenty years before. His hair was shorter than when he'd last seen him and his beard was gone. But that same pure strength shone from his blue-gray eyes.

Obi-Wan stood up, never breaking eye contact with the Emperor. "So we do."