Thanks for your reviews, (for all your queries, is AU and a continuation of my previous 2) Changes from AOTC but basic storyline the same.

Chapter 2

Anakin and Obi Wan stood in the centre of the Jedi council room. Anakin was smiling broadly at Obi Wan. He had just been given the rank of Master for his stunt on Selda Tanra.

"Now to business," Mace said.

"Track down this bounty hunter, you must, Obi-Wan." Yoda said.

"Most importantly, find out who he's working for." Mace added.

"What about Senator Amidala? She will still need protecting." Obi Wan asked.

"Handle that, Anakin will." Yoda said.

"Anakin, escort the Senator back to her home planet of Naboo. She'll be safer there. And don't use registered transport. Travel as refugees." Mace said.

"As the leader of the opposition, it will be very difficult to get Senator Amidala to leave the Capital." Anakin said.

"Until caught this killer is, our judgement she must respect." Yoda sais, as if that would solve everything.

"Anakin, go to the Senate and ask Chancellor Palpatine to speak with her," Mace said, more practically.

The Jedi and the Master then left the chamber to carry out their assignments. "I see you got the cushy job," Obi Wan said once they left the room, "could it be because you're the council's favourite and they don't want you hurt?" Obi Wan had a sly smile on his face.

"They know I'm good at dealing with difficult people," Anakin said, "After all, I dealt with you all my life." They were laughing at that when they walked into the main hall, civilians and Jedi alike looked in awe at the two heroes go by. It definitely made them uncomfortable, their similar thought was that they had to be even quieter about their doings, this mystique they seemed to have gained need no more fuel to it.

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"Bye Gaina," Anakin said as he hugged her. "Be good," he continued with an impish grin.

"Now Ani, you know me," she also grinned, "I'm never good. Be careful." she added, more seriously. "Don't get hurt."

"I won't," Anakin said, turning to go, "I promise."

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"I will talk to her. Senator Amidala will not refuse an executive order. I know her well enough to assure you of that." Palpatine said to Anakin in his office later that day.

"Thank you, your Excellency." Anakin replied respectfully, inwardly wishing he could eave soon, but he knew the chancellor wouldn't let this opportunity pass for buttering him up.

"I hear they have made Jedi Kenobi a Master," he said walking down the steps from his desk.

"That is correct, your Excellency," Anakin said.

"Soon, that will be you," Palpatine said, "You are a gifted Knight, and extremely powerful. I see you becoming the greatest Knight of all."

"I only hope to serve the Order well," Anakin replied.

"Of course, of course," Palpatine said, obviously not buying the show of meek humbleness.

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Obi Wan, Mace and Yoda walked down the Temple corridors discussing Anakin, "am concerned for Anakin. He has grown more strained recently, I fear he will not cope with what he sees is ahead of us."

"We feel sure that everything will come together in time." Mace said, unable to disguise the slight worry for the boy in his voice.

"Feel something coming for him, I do. An anchor to keep him grounded," Yoda said.

"You are sure Master Yoda?" Obi Wan said with some hope.

"Already come, this thing has, felt a slight difference in him already I did," Yoda said.

"Amidala," Obi Wan said, "She must be the anchor, I noticed something odd occurring when they met, that would explain it."

"Even better this assignment for him is," Yoda said, pleased that it was someone strong willed who would not falter.

"Will the council sanction a marriage between them, after all, she is a Senator," Obi Wan asked hesitantly.

"Everyone on the council is fond of Anakin, after all we trained him personally, we would like to see him happy for a while, he has not had much recently, and he will have even less to come," Mace said, "We would sanction the marriage."

Obi Wan looked relieved at this.

"Remember, Obi Wan. If the prophecy is true, Anakin is the only one who can bring the Force back into balance."

"If he follows the right path." Obi Wan said.

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"I'm taking an extended leave of absence. It will be your responsibility to take my place in the Senate. Representative Binks, I know I can count on you." Padme tol JarJar in her rooms as Dorme packed and Anakin looked on.

"Mesa honoured to be taken on dissa heavy burden. Mesa accept this with muy muy humility and da…"

"Jar Jar. I don't wish to hold you up. I'm sure you have a great deal to do." Padme said with a smile.

"Of course, M'Lady." JarJar said with a bow.

Padme stalked to Anakin, obviously very angry. "I do not like this idea of hiding." she said.

"Don't worry, now that the Council has ordered an official investigation, it won't take Master Obi-Wan long to find this bounty hunter." Anakin said as he looked through a window.

"I haven't worked for a year to defeat the Military Creation Act not to be here when its fate is decided!" Padme vented.

"Sometimes we have to let go of our pride and do what is requested of us." Anakin said, looking at everything but her.

"Pride? Ani, you're young, and you don't have a very firm grip on politics. I suggest you reserve your opinions for some other time." Padme scolded.

"I have been studying politics in Coruscant since I came here, under the guidance of Master Gallia. I have a better grip on politics as you call it than you seem to think," Anakin said, gently admonishing her.

"I'm sorry Ani…" Padme started, this Anakin was not someone to be trifled with.

"Please don't call me that." Anakin said. Jabitha had called him that, he ceased to be Ani when he saw the destruction of her homeworld.

"What?" she asked as she piled more clothes into her trunk.

"Ani.." Anakin said, wincing imperceptibly as he said it.

"I've always called you that... it is your name, isn't it?" she said, confused.

"It's Anakin. When you say Ani it's like I'm still a little boy... and I'm not. I stopped being a boy a long time ago," he sad, turning back to the window.

"I'm sorry, Anakin. It's impossible to deny you've…" she began, looking hi over with some sadness at the boy who had all but disappeared, "...that you've grown up." Anakin nodded as she continued, "You must have seen a lot."

"A lot," Anakin said with a sigh, "But nothing I can't talk about with friends."

"Do you have a lot of friends?" Padme asked out of curiosity.

"Some, there's Padu, whom you met a couple of years ago, and Gaina, you've met her Master, Master Windu, various members of the council, and Obi Wan." Anakin looked at the ground with a brief laugh, "Obi Wan is more like family, we're always arguing, laughing together."

"Family is important," Padme said, "I have always wondered what could be so bad about it that Jedi didn't allow it."

"Jedi must remained focused and impartial," Anakin said, "With no connections to your birth you have no loyalties to a particular system of planets and therefore remain impartial."

"Seems a lonely way to grow," Padme said, "No family…"

"But we do have family, M'Lady," Anakin corrected, "We have each other." Padme didn't seem to miss the double meaning behind those words.

Padme walked over to where Anakin was standing watch and put a hand on his arm. "Anakin…" They looked into each toher eyes for the first time and she felt something connect, "Don't try to grow up too fast."

"That is not something I can prevent," Anakin said, "I am already older than my years…" he said looking at Padme.

"Please don't look at me like that." Padme said.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I can see what you're thinking." Padme said. Obviously not knowing what he was thinking because he was thinking about his daughter in the visions and about how much she looked like Padme.

"Ahh... So, you have Jedi powers too?" Anakin said with a laugh. Padme at last could see a small part of the boy.

"It makes me feel uncomfortable." she said, looking down at her packing.

"Sorry, M'Lady." he replied as he turned back to his watch.

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Anakin and Padme were dressed as peasants getting off the taxi. They were taking unregistered transport to Naboo and had to be disguised. Captain Typho, Dorme and Obi Wan waited to had them Padme's luggage, Jedi didn't need luggage, they travelled light. "Be safe, M'Lady." Captain Typho said as they left the ship.

"Thank you, Captain. Take good care of Dormé... The threat's on you two now." Padme replied.

"He'll be safe with me." Dorme said with a smile.

As the two women hugged, Dorme wept, "You'll be fine." Padme whispered in her ear.

"It's not me, M'Lady. I worry about you. What if they realize you've left the Capital?" Dorme replied.

"Then my Jedi protector will have to prove how good he is," Padme said with an impish smile. Anakin frowned at this before turning to Obi Wan.

"Be careful," Obi Wan said, "And be mindful of your feelings," he said in a more hushed tone so that Padme would not hear, Anakin knew what that meant in regards to his feelings for Padme and nodded. "I will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, M'Lady. You'll be back here in no time."

"I will be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi." Padme said.

"Time to go." Anakin said, getting off the transport and looking around the dock for danger.

"I know." Padme said as she hugged Dorme one last time. Anakin picked up the luggage as they left the bus, R2 was waiting for them.

"Anakin, may the Force be with you." Obi Wan said.

"May the Force be with you, Obi Wan," Anakin said as he and Padme went to the Star freighter.

"Suddenly, I'm afraid…" Padme said nervously.

"Don't be," Anakin said reassuringly, "I have protected many people successfully, as I am sure I will you, besides, we've got R2 with us." They both laughed at this as they entered the star freighter.

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Obi Wan walked down the street, surrounded by old buildings, beat up speeders and transporters rocketed past all the time. It was the worst part of the planet, the digs. He entered a building called "Dex's Diner." A waitress droid approached him. "Can I help ya?" she asked, carrying half eaten food.

"I'm looking for Dexter." Obi Wan replied.

"Waddya want him for?" she said approaching him nervously.

"He's not in trouble. It's personal." Obi Wan replied.

The droid went over to the serving hatch behind the counter, "Someone to see ya, honey. A Jedi, by the looks of him."

Dex's huge head poked out of the steaming room. "Obi-Wan!" He cried.

"Hey, Dex." Obi Wan said with a smile.

"Take a seat! Be right with ya!" Dex said disappearing into the smoke.

"You want a cup of ardees?" the droid asked as Obi Wan sat in a booth.

"Oh yes, thank you." Obi Wan replied as the droid moved off. The door of the counter opened to reveal Dex, a big balding sweaty old alien with extra arms. He was beaming broadly as Obi Wan got out of his seat to give him a hug.

"Hey, ol' buddy!"

"Hey, Dex." Obi Wan replied, as Dex eased into the seat opposite Obi Wan.

"So, my friend. What can I do for ya?" Dex asked, once comfortable.

"You can tell me what this is." Obi Wan said placing the dart between them. Dex's eyes widened.

"Well, whaddya know…" Dex said, "I ain't seen one of these since I was prospecting on Subterrel beyond the Outer Rim!"

"Can you tell me where it came from?" Obi Wan asked.

Dexter grinned as he replaced the dart, "This baby belongs to them cloners. What
you got here is a Kamino saberdart."

"Kamino saberdart? ...I wonder why it didn't show up in our analysis archive."

"It's these funny little cuts on the side give it away... Those analysis droids you've got over there only focus on symbols, you know. I should think you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom." Dex said with a laugh.

"Well, Dex, if droids could think, we wouldn't be here, would we?" Obi Wan said laughing. "Kamino... doesn't sound familiar. Is it part of the Republic?"

"No, it's beyond the Outer Rim. I'd say about twelve parsecs outside the Rishi Maze, toward the south. It should be easy to find, even for those droids in your archive. These Kaminoans keep to themselves. They're cloners. Damned good ones, too."

"Cloners? Are they friendly?" Obi Wan asked as he picked the dart up.

"It depends." Dex said.

"On what, Dex?"

"On how good your manners are... and how big your pocketbook is…" Dex said with a smile.

"Thanks Dex," Obi Wan said, getting up, "You've been most helpful."

When Obi Wan went to the Temple library to set a course for the planet, he discovered that it wasn't there. The Librarian could give no knowledge about it apart from the fact that it obviously didn't exist anymore.

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R2 grabbed some food from the canteen line on the freighter and took it back to Anakin and Padme. Anakin was asleep and having another nightmare. It was another vision. This time of Obi Wan. He was in the same place as Qui gon was when he was killed, and he too was being chained to be killed. "No, no, Obi Wan, no…" he muttered. Padme rested a hand on his arm. He woke up with a start, then looked around, realising that he was on the freighter, but seeing no one else crowding him, he obviously hadn't said anything to bad. His visions got worse as they got closer to the beginning of the darkness. He noticed Padme looking at him, he looked back somewhat confused. "What?" he asked.

"You seemed to be having a nightmare." she said, concerned. Anakin looked at her more closely, trying to see if he revealed anything, instead she handed over a bowl of mush and bread. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Yeah." he replied, taking the food from R2.

"We went to lightspeed a while ago." she said, as Anakin looked into Padme's eyes.

"I look forward to seeing Naboo again. I've thought about it every day since I left. It's by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen…"

"It may not be as you remember it. Time changes perception." she said, trying to ignore his stare.

"Sometimes it does... Sometimes for the better, sometimes not." Anakin said, looking at his food thinking of Zenoma Sekot.

"It must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi... not being able to visit the places you like... Or do the things you like…" she said, also looking at her food.

"You get to see so many amazing places that most people don't get to see," Anakin replied, "The life of a Jedi is like any life, there are good and bad points. It is the way of life."

"True," she said, "There are so many things I had planned to do by now, but I haven't due to my job with the Senate."

Anakin smiled, "what is there left for you to do?" Anakin asked with an impish smile, "You've already saved you planet and have travelled the Galaxy."

"I had planned to marry and have children by now," she said, "But I suppose a Jedi will never plan that, after all it is forbidden."

"A Jedi is allowed to have children and marry, with the approval of the council," Anakin said, "But it is still not looked for, I myself will never marry I suspect," he lied.

"If it is allowed then why not?" she asked, please let it be something I can get him to get over, wait a second, why am I thinking like that? We could never be together, it would cause too many problems, but why do I want to so much?

"My life is too dangerous, and it will only become more so," Anakin said, "Any woman I marry would have to be strong enough to withstand long absences of not knowing whether or not I am dead," Anakin sighed, "besides, my life is so dangerous that anyone I married would be at risk, and I am away so often, I will not be able to stay around long enough to form that kind of commitment."

"I'm sure any girl would be willing to wait, or take as long as it was needed for the man she loved." Padme said. Why did I say that?

"Maybe," Anakin smirked wryly, "Most of the girls I know are too in awe of me for me to get close enough to know them."

"Awe?" she said, "You think highly of yourself."

"Not really," Anakin said, "I don't know why they do it, it's more than a little irritating."

"Any particular reason for this mystique?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Well, I suppose it's due to my various missions, and my sword play," Anakin said, "And of course, I am really hot." They both laughed at this and continued the journey with smiles.

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Obi Wan walked through the halls of the Temple ending up at the training veranda. He walked in to see Master Yoda teaching twenty odd four years olds how to use their light sabres. It was a job Anakin sometimes did when he was in the Temple. The little Padawans loved him. Yoda was there patiently telling the children to "feel, don't think," as they wore helmets to obscure the view of the training droids. "Younglings - enough! A visitor we have. Welcome him." Yoda said when he spotted Obi Wan. The children turned off their light sabres. "Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, meet the mighty Bear Clan."

"Welcome, Master Obi Wan!" the children said in unison.

Obi Wan nodded in greeting to the children. "I am sorry to disturb you, Master."

"What help to you, can I be?" Yoda asked.

"I'm looking for a planet described to me by an old friend. I trust him. But the system doesn't show up on the archive maps." Obi Wan explained.

"Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has. How
embarrassing... how embarrassing." Yoda said to the children, "Liam, the shades. An
interesting puzzle. Gather, younglings, around the map reader. Clear your minds and find Obi Wan's wayward planet, we will."

The children gathered around the map reader, Obi Wan got out a glass globe and placed it in the reader. The room is suddenly filled with images of stars and systems, the children tried to touch various holograms as Obi Wan walked into the display. "This is where it ought to be…" Obi Wan pointed, "but it isn't. Gravity is pulling all the stars in this area inward to this spot. There should be a star here... but there isn't."

"Most interesting. Gravity's silhouette remains, but the star and all its planets have disappeared. How can this be? Now, younglings, in your mind, what is the first thing
you see? An answer? A thought? Anyone?" Yoda asked.

After a brief pause a child held up his hand and answered at Yoda's nod, " Master? Because someone erased it from the archive memory."

"That's right! Yes! That's what happened! Someone erased it!" all the children joined in.

"If the planet blew up, the gravity would go away." A little girl said.

Obi Wan only stared at the obvious answer as Yoda chuckled. "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. The Padawan is right. Go to the centre of the gravity's pull, and find your planet you will." he said to Obi Wan as they moved away. Obi Wan pulled the reader into his hand with the force causing the image to disappear and the walked into the adjoining room.

"But Master Yoda who could have erased information from the archives? That's impossible, isn't it?" Obi asked.

"Dangerous and disturbing this puzzle is." Yoda frowned, "Only a Jedi could have erased those files. But who and why, harder to answer. Meditate on this, I will. May the Force be with you."

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Gaina stuff had to be there so that you won't forget her. She doesn't really appear later in this part. No romance between the two, is not and Ani/OC. Completely Ani/Ami, k? Review me!