W00T! Chapter 2 :D! to those who reviewed chapter 1, thank you so much :D! and Aqua, thanks for dropping by ;)!

Chapter 2: Strangely familiar

Padme's eyes widened at the sight of the helpful man. Like the boy, he too, looked incredibly familiar…So familiar that she almost feared the familiarity. From what she had seen, he was tall, with a majestic face that almost reminded her of her Anakin. He had strong, piercing black eyes, and raven black, wavy hair that went down to the base of his neck. He was physically well-built, which made her think that if he truly was a Jedi, he was one who concentrated more on his physical abilities, than the force powers.

"I can't move my right leg." She finally said. "If I try, it hurts."

"Then we'll not move it." The young man answered. "Anything else I should know of? I fear of hurting you when I carry you to the medic room."

"Well, my shoulders hurt a bit, but I can manage. They might just be bruised, that's all." She said back, explaining to him her current state. She still couldn't explain the nagging feeling at the back of her head about this man. It's like a part of her wanted to run away from him, and yet, she was also intrigued. After all, he didn't seem to mean her any harm. In fact, he was openly offering to help her so it seems.

"Then I guess I only have that leg of yours to worry about." He smiled at her.

Padme smiled back as a sign of respect. "I believe so." She said in reply. Then at that moment, as she looked back at him and saw the caring smile on his undoubtedly handsome face, most of the fears she initially had of him slowly washed away. Why would she need to fear him anyway? Why fear someone that is good? Why fear the light, when only the darkness need be feared? This man was no threat to her. Whatever fear she had on him before was false and uncalled for.

Jard once again found himself lost, staring in silence at his newfound friend. /"Pull yourself together."/ He thought to himself.

"Anyway, madame, if it's alright with you…" He swallowed, like a shy young man, as he carefully moved himself closer to Padme. He gently leaned down and slowly placed his arms underneath her so that he could carry and hold her in them. He was careful and cautious, not wanting to press against her shoulders and her damaged leg. This girl seemed to have been through a lot already.

Padme found the necessity to wrap her arms around his neck as he lifted her up in his strong arms. She was right. He was physically sound. He carried her as if she were just a piece of paper. She found herself pressing closer against his torso as he slowly made his way to the medic room where she will soon receive her needed medical treatment.

Oh how his body frame reminded her so much of her Anakin. She couldn't help but wonder where he could be now, or rather, where she was now. Her eyes fluttered as they came to the verge of closing shut. She was tired, fatigued, and ready to surrender to the seduction of sleep. But now was not the right time for that. There were still so many things she needed to figure out.

She suddenly remembered the young man calling the boy "Qui-Gon" a while ago. It seemed that the boy had the same name as Obi-Wan's fallen master. And now that it dawned at her, the boy did somehow remind her a lot of Qui-Gon. If Qui-Gon were not a Jedi, she would have instantly thought of him as his son.

Padme looked around and saw the nearby sun setting behind the tall buildings that scattered all over the view before her. This place she was in, reminded her so much of Coruscant. In fact, was she in Coruscant? But if this was Coruscant, why did it look and feel so different? She let her tired eyes survey the structure that housed her and her companions, and the place looked so much like Jedi Temple. Then her eyes widened as she realized that she really was in Jedi Temple. There could be no other structure like this in the galaxy. She truly was in Coruscant…a very different Coruscant.

"Am I holding you all right?" He asked, utterly concerned. He looked down and his dark eyes met her round ones. "Please do tell me if I'm bringing you discomfort."

The young boy by the name of Qui-Gon followed beside him and looked at Padme in a concerned manner too. He seemed to reflect the feelings of his superior.

"I'm okay. Thanks." She replied shyly. For a second there, she couldn't pull her eyes away from his. Was it because he reminded her of her Ani? No, that must not be it. It was probably due to the kindness that emanated from his otherwise dark eyes. They made her feel welcome and cared for.

Then she finally asked. "Are you a Jedi?" She had to know. She looked up at him, waiting for an answer. If he was a Jedi, then perhaps he could lead her to Anakin.

"Well yes I am, madame." He replied courteously.

Padme's eyes widened. Then a soft smile crept up her face. "Do you know where Anakin is? Is this Coruscant? Are we in Jedi Temple? Everything looks so different. And, and, I'm not sure, but I think my ship crashed and…" Padme couldn't stop herself from asking one question after another. She had just been rescued by this noble Jedi and she hoped that he had the answer to most of her inquiries.

"Whoa. Hold on there, my friend." He chuckled, and his face was warmed with a smile. "What do you say we answer them one question at a time, okay?"

She calmed down and smiled back. Her cheeks flushed red at the realization of her sudden outburst. "Okay. I'm sorry. I…I just feel so confused, so lost. You see, I'm looking for someone and I have a feeling you might know him."

"This Anakin person you speak of?" He carried her down a flight of stairs and into another hallway. "He's the one you are looking for, if I'm correct." He chose his words well, not wanting to answer her own questions for her.

"Yes! Anakin! Anakin Skywalker!" She suddenly exclaimed. Life suddenly filled her otherwise tired eyes, and blood seemed to flow back into her veins. The thought of seeing Anakin had done that to her. Oh her sweet Anakin…How she hungered to be with him again.

Jard furrowed his eyebrows and pressed his lips together into a thin line. The distant and confused look in his strong eyes echoed a feeling of uncertainty. It was rather obvious, from the look on his face, that he had no idea who that Anakin was.

He looked at her again. "I'm sorry, my lady…But I know not of this Anakin Skywalker you speak of. Is he of any importance? Does he live here in Coruscant? One of the royaslties, perhaps, considering that you're here in Jedi Temple?" He asked. He felt sorry that he had to answer her question with another question.

/"How could he not know Anakin? Anakin and Obi-wan are currently the most well known Jedis in the ongoing Clone Wars! Almost every Jedi, near and far, know their name! What's going on!"/ She thought to herself.

But at least he was able to answer her other questions. She was indeed in Coruscant, and in the Jedi Temple. The only other thing that bothered her now was how she got there, and why everything wasn't all as she remembered them. Jedi Temple was still Jedi Temple, but it didn't feel like the Jedi Temple she had known. And Coruscant, something about it felt so old and ancient.

"By the way, if it's okay to ask…May I please know your name? I don't want to sound intrusive but you could at least give me a name I can call you by." He said with a smile.

Padme was quite surprised with the formality and politeness of this Jedi. In fact, he reminded her of the Jedis of the olden days…Knights in shining armors who were ready to serve those who needed their help and assistance. The young man also had a sense of royalty about him. His formal stance, graceful manners, and cautious words were delivered as if he were born to become a king, a ruler, a leader, a man of prestige.

She smiled back at him, almost blushing. "No…no, you're not being intrusive at all. I'm Padme. Padme Naberrie." She answered. She could feel his arms cradling her delicate form firmly and securely. Almost as if he was being too protective of her.

Jard Dooku smiled. "Well it's nice to be of assistance to you, Lady Padme. It's just quite unfortunate that we had to meet in such --- an unconventional circumstance." A slight chuckle escaped from his lips.

Padme answered with a giggle. "And it's all thanks to your little friend…Qui-Gon". She felt uneasy saying the younger boy's name. It was a name that once belonged to a good Jedi Master, a friend, who died saving the very thing she stood for as a queen.

Jard's smile widened. "Ah, yes…little Qui-Gon." He looked down and winked at the little boy. The boy laughed in return. "He's a compassionate one, isn't he? Always taking the time to help those in need. Never hesitating to offer his assistance to anyone who needs it. He's the personification of what a Jedi is, if I say so myself."

"Then you have trained him well." Padme said.

"I wouldn't call it training, really. I'm not even a Jedi Master yet, not even close. Qui-Gon's like a little brother to me...Always had been since he entered the Temple as a youngling. Don't know what I'd do if something happens to that boy. His compassion for all creatures gets him into trouble sometimes."

Little Qui-Gon scowled, then he pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Well I'm not in trouble all the time." He said. "And after all, whenever I do, you're always there to save me, Master Dooku." He said gleefully.

Padme's eyes widened at the name the boy mentioned. /"Did he just say, Master Dooku?"/ She felt a deep pit in her stomach and a chill up her spine. /"Wasn't Count Dooku Qui-Gon Jinn's appointed Jedi Master?" This was all too weird and too coincidental for her taste. Something was not right. The world around her didn't feel right. She felt as if she didn't belong there.

She suddenly had the urge to ask Dooku about the boy's last name, when Dooku reached the medic room, still holding Padme in his arms.

"Here we go." He said as he entered the room.

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