Disclaimer: Star Wars and all associated characters, plotlines, and worlds (good and bad) are property and copyright © of George Lucas (aka The Richest Man in Hollywood). This is purely for fan entertainment only.

Also a warning… this fanfic is rated MA for adult themes. I have also officially crossed over into "Obidala land"… in other words, if you're offended or otherwise do not like the pairing between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, then please don't read further to spare yourself the irritation. Otherwise, enjoy!

Quick A/N- Make sure you have read Chapter 10 as well. I posted it rather quickly after Chapter 9, I noticed the response to it was not quite as numerous as the other chapters have been. If you have already reviewed, thank you! I apologize for taking so long on this one- I have had quite a few things going on right now, particularly final exams. (yes, I'm on a weird schedule)

Chapter 11 - His Kind

They found themselves once again in the tavern, seeking out information and entertainment with the rest of the locals. The barmaid had revealed herself to be a constant source of gossip. They had learned her name was Cazi, and she was again showing off her knowledge of the Galactic Elite, learned from her ever favorite Holonews entertainment section. This time, they were both prepared for anything she might throw at them.

"Aye, that Queen Padmé was a lucky lady," she confided, "She got all the attention of that han'some Anakin." She sighed wistfully, again relating her favoritism for the young Jedi.

Padmé almost snorted, "But what if he was not a very nice person? What if he was arrogant?" she asked the woman, reminding herself again that the woman had no idea who any of them truly were. They were all just pieces of some intergalactic soap opera to Cazi.

Cazi looked at her incredulously, "Tiané, dear, his looks make up for any poor qualities he may or may not have." She nudged Padmé conspiringly. "You know you would jump 'is bones given the chance." Padmé turned bright red and Obi-Wan, despite himself, chuckled. Cazi turned to him, "Begging your pardon, sir, you're not bad looking yourself." She thought on this, "In fact, you look rather familiar, especially with that beard of yours."

Obi-Wan brought his hand up, waving it slightly, and Padmé recognized he was using a slight mind trick on the barmaid. "You don't remember me." He said it almost as a command.

Cazi blinked, echoing, "I don't remember you. You're not familiar at all." She shook her head as if coming out of her stupor. "Have you two met anyone else yet?" she inquired.

The Jedi Master shook his head, glancing around the room. "No one as of yet."

Cazi nodded, "They keep to themselves, they do." She pointed around the room to certain locals. "That man lost his wife in a farming accident. That woman lost her husband to the Clone Wars." She shook her head sadly, "She hates the Jedi, says it is their fault. She thinks that it was their fault that we went to war."

Padmé was the one to start at hearing this, "But why? That's ridiculous, the Jedi abstain from politics." She glanced at Obi-Wan, a grin tugging at the edges of her lips, "They even go so far as to hate politicians." She felt a slight kick her foot.

The barmaid shook her head. "That I don't know, miss. Seems to me that they should be thanking the Jedi, not hating them. But that's a very unpopular opinion as the Empire now dictates that we not harbor Jedi." She continued shaking her head, a sad look on her face, "A sad day when war heroes are outlaws. But that's what happens when they commit treason."

Obi-Wan came to their defense, "But how do you know it was treason? We only have the Emperor's word to go on."

Cazi glanced at him sharply. "Don't let anyone hear you say that. That's treason itself."

Obi-Wan inclined his head, "You're right." He kept that in mind- the barmaid only reminded him it was treason, but she seemed to share his opinion.

The search for Bene had been sped up, Darth Vader did not wish to spend any more time scouring the Senator's records of his whereabouts. He had already determined that the Senator had left an area in the asteroid belt near Mustafar shortly after the battle between he and Obi-Wan. Very curious, indeed. This information had not been concealed, something he found just as curious. He knew that Bail had probably met with his former Master, but likely he did not know his Master's whereabouts. Obi-Wan would not be stupid enough to let others know his location. He would not endanger himself needlessly- nor would he endanger Padmé, if she was with him. That was the part he had yet to figure out- if his wife was with his Master.

Commander Appo again came to him, the designated reporter. "We have found the blond Jedi you requested." He handed the Sith Lord a datapad with an image of the Jedi they sought preparing food in the Main Hall in the Palace. "Shall I have the troops gather her?"

Darth Vader inclined his head in assent. "I need to conference with Kale, that would be adequate."

Kale had returned to his side without learning any additional information about the infant. "Yes, Master?" he inquired.

The Dark Lord had another datapad prepared, one he had detailed himself. "I have somewhere I want you to go, a moon I have heard houses those not wanting to be found." He handed the datapad to Kale. "Go to the moon of Endor and let me know what you find."

Kale inclined his head, not questioning where the Sith Lord had come across his information, but he knew the Emperor's spy network was vast. "As you wish, master."

The spy went off to prepare for his journey and Darth Vader continued himself towards the Main Hall. He took deep breaths through the respirator, falling into meditation, letting his body go on auto-pilot. He searched with his feelings, connecting with the Force on a more intimate level. He felt out for the Force signature of his Master, knowing he could only go so far. But he had the same gut feeling that the Force led him with, about this moon. He was positive he would find Obi-Wan there.

He was not sure how he felt about whether Padmé would be there with him or not. Her betrayal twisted like a knife in his gut, she did not know how she could leave him to the anguish of not having a body, the torment he went through every day in learning to use the mechanical body. He could no longer feel any sensation except that of burning, day in and day out. Her soft presence would have soothed him, made it seem like there was a purpose in it all. Instead, she slapped him across the face behind his mask with her nonpresence.

He came alert as his body told him he should be close to the Main Hall where they were detaining the Jedi. This one was young, she had not been confirmed through her Trials as a Jedi Knight for more than a standard year. He remembered her as a Padawan himself, she had not accelerated as fast as he had and had always harbored a sort of resentment towards him, something which surely kept her from advancing within the Jedi ranks. If she could not control her resentment, she surely could not control other more pressing emotions.

But this was something he himself still struggled over, some Masters suspected he had personally only kept his emotions in check long enough for the Trials, and for any other public meeting with the Jedi. It was in private that he lashed out with all the anger and frustration. But now he did not need to hide that at all, ever again. That was the only thing he relished in, with this new state- he did not have to hide anything, except any ambition towards the Emperor's place.

He strode through the doorway forcefully, holding his masked head high, arrogance surrounding him like the dark cape at his shoulders. There was nothing that this child-like Jedi could do to stop him from the ultimate destruction of their order, culminating with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda.

She stood with her own head held high, though in dignity, not arrogance. "I see you are here to exterminate the last of your own kind." She spat out, tempering her words with slight anger. This had been a common trait among the Jedi he had hunted down- they always succumbed to the anger that they taught led towards the Dark Side of the Force.

He laughed at this, his nearly mechanical laughter reverberating throughout the Hall. "You are not my kind. You are weak, pathetic, and hypocritical." He finished the walk to face her, pulling his saber out of its place at his side.

Bene stood still as he went through the motions, saying levelly, "Kill me. But you will never kill all of the Jedi, we will always prevail."

He ignited the lightsaber, watching its red blade glow in the dimly lit Hall. The Clone troopers around him stood silent, awaiting his command on what they should do with the errant Jedi. He gestured for them to free her from their captivity, then sliced off her right hand, her saber hand, with his red blade. "That's a reminder of what it is like to be incapacitated, to not be able to control your destiny, while you await further torture so that we can extract information about the remaining Jedi. Think on it well, it will be the least of the pain you will suffer if you do not tell me everything you know." He paused, deactivating the saber. "You will die shortly after, one of the last of your kind." He waited again, letting this sink in. "And I will find the last of you, that is how I will regain balance to the Force, as the Chosen One, all of the Jedi scum will be gone."

I'm chosing brevity over poor quality… more to come! And I hope, in a much quicker manner than last time. Let me know what you think, every review is great inspiration :)