Obi-Wan walked up the steps into the Jedi council and saw that there was already a meeting in session the next day. Two men stood in the middle of the room and all around them in the familiar blue chairs were Padme, Anakin, Yoda, Sharivari, Lomitas and the newest Jedi Master Johnny Darko.

"Excuse me for being late," Obi-Wan appologised, bowing low to Yoda before taking his seat next to Padme. She smiled at him as he passed her and he knew that after their little talk, she had had a dreamless sleep and was now feeling refreshed again.

"Missed much, you have not," Yoda informed him as he settled into the seat and looked at the two men infront of him.

"Just started, we have."

Obi-Wan nodded to show that he understood, then he let out a silent sigh of relief. Sleep had finally caught up with him after he had searched the temple all night for the other Jedi Masters with no luck. His worries would have to wait for the moment because he didn't want to share anything with the council that might cause Padme to panick. So instead he focused his attention back onto the two men who were watching him curiously as they stood in the centre of the room.

The pair were obviously brothers, for they had similar features. However, they were also entirely different. One man, the youngest of the two, was a tall man with a fair and noble face, darkish hair that was streaked with chestnut and fell about his shoulders in a dead straight fashion, and a proud and stern glance.

His beard was neatly trimmed so that it was just a thin line of hair running round his cheeks, over his chin and above his lip. He was cloaked and booted as if for a long journey and though his cloak was made of the softest silk, it was stained with travel. The only sign of any clothing under his cloak was a collar embroidered with silver in which a single white stone was set.

The older man was a little more untidy. He too was wearing a cloak which was drawn close about him, but his was a dark green colour. One leg was stretched slightly infront of him as though it hurt him to put weight on it and Obi-Wan could see, from the tiny amount that was showing from under the cloak, that he was wearing boots of supple leather that fitted him well but had seen much wear.

He had a head of long dark hair, flaked with tiny strands of grey, that fell about his shoulders in waves. He, like his brother had a pair of grey eyes, but his were keen and sharp and at that moment were scanning Obi-Wan up and down with interest. Then he reached up one gloved hand and stroked his own beard, which was alot fuller than his brothers and alot less neatly kept.

He kept full eye contact with Obi-Wan for several minutes, which unnerved the Jedi Master and forced him to blink several times before finally having to look away. He looked, instead, at the younger brother who stepped forwards and bowed deeply to Yoda before finally speaking.

"Forgive us for the intrusion Masters. I am Lomas Alberto and this is my brother Ronteza. We are Princes from the planet Onderon and carry a message from our father, King Theodus."

"You don't look much like Princes," Anakin blurted out suddenly, awarding him with a deadly glare from Padme which Obi-Wan found was highly out of character for her. Even Anakin looked a little stunned, but pretended not to notice. Everyone else, however, was looking at the princes, waiting for their reactions.

"Does this answer your question?" Ronteza spoke at last, allowing his cloak to fall open to reveal a navy tunic and red sleeves. The collar was silver with the little white stone, just like Lomas' and as he removed his cloak and allowed it to drop to the floor, Obi-Wan saw that he wore gold a leather gauntlets and an engraved pitol hung from his belt which had a buckle that shone silver, like it had been newly polished. His trousers were neatly pressed and crease free and were tucked into the tops of his boots.

Lomas also removed his cloak to show the same royal attire. Obi-Wan was amazed at how quickly two travelers could look like two royal princes, just by removing one simple item of clothing. He glanced at Anakin who was sitting back in his seat, finally convinced and the meeting continued.

Lomas went on to explain about how the stormtroopers (or clones) had been located on one of the many moons of Onderon, but that the soldiers of Onderon were not strong enough to combat them. During the explanation, Obi-Wan kept glancing at Padme out of the corner of his eye. She was tense, uptight and strangely...frightened, was the only word Obi-Wan could think of to describe her feelings.

No, not frightened he realised. Upset, angry and emotional. Not like Padme at all. And this isn't about the dream either! It has something to do with these two princes. But what?

Obi-Wan's question was soon to be answered. Ronteza and Lomas were given Anakin's old quarters in the temple to stay in and Yoda had promised them an answer the next evening about whether or not the Jedi would help them and their father.

The two brothers bowed deeply, collecting their cloaks as they did so, and then left the chamber. No-one spoke for a while, and then at last Yoda broke the silence.

"Mistress Skywalker, something to say, have you?"

"No Master," she replied, startled slightly by Yoda's words. Yoda could tell that something was up, so he continued.

"Feelings of anger towards the Princes, you have. Know them, do you?"

There was a long pause and everyone turned to regard Padme as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. At last she nodded.

"They are distant cousins of mine. Their family has caused nothing but trouble for as long as I can remember."

"Sure of this, are you?" Yoda asked, and again Padme nodded.

"When I traced my family tree again a few years ago, like you had requested that I do, I saw their names had been added. I was curious to know who they were, so I researched their family and found that almost every member has stood trial for some crime or another. They are trouble Master, and I don't trust them."

"They did look shifty," Anakin admitted and Obi-Wan and several of the others had to agree.

Another thing Obi-Wan wanted to know was how Ronteza had hurt his leg. When he had removed his cloak, he had revealed a rather large scorch at the top of his boot which showed a deep burn mark, like that made from a lightsaber.

As though reading his mind, Padme added "That cut on Ronteza's leg was made by Serena Hart, my old padawan, a few weeks ago. I had suspected something was up for ages, so I asked her to tail them and when they found her, they attacked her. She barely escaped with her life."

"They have no respect for the Jedi and it angered me that they should come asking for our help after almost killing a Jedi Knight."

"Your anger, I now understand. But allow anger, you should not for reasons that you already know. Know you, do they?"

"No Master, I don't think so."

"An advantage this may prove then."

"Yes Master," Padme nodded and the other Master stood up, now that the meeting had finally ended.

Anakin took Padme's hand and comforted her as they left together. Obi-Wan sighed. Poor Padme is not a happy person! he thought sadly as he watched her leave. This is the last thing she needs at the moment. Just seeing them must bring back awful memories. I saw how she was at the temple when she was reminded of her actions. This can only add to her grief...and that dream doesn't help matters either. I should find Master Yoda and tell him about the dream now, before more bad news gets in the way!