A/N: It's my birthday today, so I decided to double-post for you all. I got a terrible mark for one of my assignments though, so please review and make me feel better
Chapter Five: Don't Worry
While her Padawan sat quietly meditating, Jovarii paced back and forth, feeling tense and jittery. Somewhere above her, Obi-Wan was walking around. She could sense him. Knowing that she was working with him and thus was being depended on by him (to an extent) was enough to make her nervous. Just being around him shook her, though she concealed it when he was with her. Now however, he was not around, and she was fairly positive he wasn't concentrating on sensing her emotions, being the dutiful Jedi he was. So she allowed herself to show her tension. After all, nobody was around to see, except –
"Master, is everything all right?" Tsena inquired, her eyes still closed.
Jovarii stopped pacing and looked at her. "Of course, Padawan. I'm fine," she lied convincingly.
"I'm sensing a large amount of tension from you. I know this is our first mission in three months, but there is no need to be worried. It seems fairly straightforward. What do you have to be anxious about?"
Jovarii raised her eyebrows. She was suddenly glad she kept a mental shield up nearly all the time. Her Padawan was very perceptive. It would be terrible if she discovered her true feelings for Obi-Wan. And it would be worse if Obi-Wan himself found out, she thought. He was so dedicated to the Jedi Order that picturing his reaction was not difficult. He'd be shocked, appalled and dismayed.
"Master?" Tsena prompted, opening her eyes and looking curiously at her.
"Nothing," Jovarii quickly replied. "You're right. I have nothing to be anxious about." She paused and looked at the ceiling. "Let's go check the security on the floors below the Senator's apartment.
Tsena nodded and followed her into the turbolift.
That way I'll be closer to Obi-Wan and I'll have something to keep me occupied. Jovarii watched the doors slide shut.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Anakin could sense someone coming. He whirled around with lightsaber in hand as the door opened, then smiled and replaced it in his belt when Obi-Wan walked in.
"Captain Typho has more than enough guards downstairs, as well as Jovarii and Tsena," Obi-Wan said. "No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?"
"Quiet as a tomb," Anakin replied. He gave a small sigh. "I don't like just waiting here for something to happen."
Obi-Wan gave an understanding, though slightly exasperated, nod, and drew a viewscreen from his belt. His surprise and concern were obvious on his tensed face – all he could see was the door and R2-D2, but not the Senator herself.
"She covered the cam," Anakin explained. "She programmed R2 to warn us if there's a intruder."
Obi-Wan frowned. "It's not merely an intruder I'm worried about. There are many other ways to kill a Senator."
"I know," Anakin agreed, then voiced his own opinion. "But we also want to catch this assassin, don't we, Master?"
His Master's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're using her as bait?" His tone was clearly shocked.
"It was her idea," Anakin protested. He wasn't the one to blame, for once. "Don't worry. She won't come to harm. I can sense everything in that room. Trust me." If he caught the assassin with Obi-Wan, Tsena would not be put in danger. That sense of responsibility heightened his sense of the Force.
"It's too risky," Obi-Wan growled. "And your sense aren't that attuned, my young apprentice."
"And yours are?" Anakin asked in a tone more suggestive than defensive.
Obi-Wan gave him a sideways glance. "Possibly," he said. They were silent for a moment. "You look tired," he observed.
"I don't sleep well anymore," Anakin said frankly.
"Because of your mother?" Obi-Wan questioned, already knowing the answer.
Anakin nodded, frustrated. "I don't know why I keep dreaming about her now. I haven't seen her since I was little."
"Your love for her was, and remains, deep," Obi-Wan replied. "That is hardly reason for despair."
"But these are more than…" Anakin broke off and sighed. "Are they dreams or visions? Are "they images of the past, or do they tell of something that is yet to be?"
"Or are they just dreams?" Obi-Wan challenged him gently. "Not every dream is a premonition, some vision or some mystical connection. Some dreams are just dreams, and even Jedi have dreams, young Padawan."
Anakin didn't look as if he agreed.
"Dreams pass in time," Obi-Wan told him.
Well, these ones have become more frequent. Although some dreams do fade with time, Anakin thought. He nodded.
"I used to dream of Padmé," he admitted. "Thos dreams were more…pleasant." Only they pale in comparison to the dreams I've had about Tsena. She makes my entire life more pleasant. A small smile spread across his face as he thought of her.
Misreading his expression, Obi-Wan said sharply, "Be mindful of your thoughts, Anakin. They betray you. You've made a commitment to the Jedi Order – a commitment not easily broken."
Anakin glanced at his Master quickly.
"And don't forget, she's a politician," Obi-Wan continued. "They're not to be trusted."
Padmé's not just another politician. She doesn't lie or cheat. She's essentially good, and she works for the good of her people, Anakin thought.
"She's not like the others in the Senate, Master," he said.
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow. "It's been my experience that Senators focus only on pleasing those who fund their campaigns, and they are more than willing to forget the niceties of democracy to get those funds."
Anakin groaned. "Not another lecture, Master." Politics and economics were not subjects of interest to him, and Obi-Wan could go on for hours about them. "Besides, you're generalizing. The Chancellor doesn't seem to be corrupt."
"Palpatine is a politician," Obi-Wan countered. "I've observed that he is very clever at following the passions and prejudices of the Senators."
"I think he is a good man," Anakin was firm. "My instincts are very positive about…" He trailed off, overwhelmed by the feeling of danger suddenly coming from Padmé's room.
"I sense it, too," Obi-Wan said, and they exploded into the room.
"Master, really – what is wrong?" Tsena persisted as they walked out into the floor directly below Padmé's apartment.
Jovarii sighed. "You aren't going to let this go, are you, Padawan?" she asked, turning to face her.
Tsena shook her head and looked at her pointedly.
"Fine." Jovarii's face changed, and she looked troubled. "I'm concerned about Obi-Wan…and Anakin," she remembered to add.
Tsena looked curiously at her Master. "Why?" she asked, tilting her head to one side.
"I feel that they are in more danger than they think they are," Jovarii answered matter-of-factly.
Her apprentice nodded understandingly. "I know – I feel that way too."
Surprised, Jovarii opened her mouth to speak, but was stopped by the disturbance in the Force she felt form upstairs.
"Do you sense that?" she asked her Padawan, staring upwards.
Tsena nodded, and they darted into the turbolift. Jovarii impatiently hit the button and drew her lightsaber hilt from her belt.
Obi-Wan, if you're injured or in trouble when I get up there…
The doors slipped open and the two women charged into Padmé's bedroom. They burst in just in time to see Anakin slicing through two poisonous kouhuns on the Senator's pillow, and Obi-Wan leaping through the blinds, grabbing hold of a retreating assassin droid.
"Stay here!" Anakin barked at Padmé as Captain Typho, Dormé and two guards rushed in. "See to her!" he instructed them, then he charged out the door. He paused when he saw Tsena, and they locked eyes for a moment, then he was gone, presumably to find a speeder to follow his Master.
Jovarii stared grimly as she watched Obi-Wan swinging from the bucking droid. Obi, you idiot. I'm going to kill you. She whirled around and headed for the lift, planning to go to the docking bay to wait for his and Anakin's return.
She paused and glanced back, and saw the droid send electric shocks to Obi-Wan's hands. She winced and hurried on, Tsena following behind.
That is, if you don't get yourself killed first.