"Come in Master Windu."
Mace's eyebrow raiseddue tothe apparent lack of surprise for his visit. It was almost as if the young senator had been expecting him.
"Please have a seat." Padmé motioned to a comfortable sofa in the sitting area, but Mace didn't budge from the doorway.
"No thank you. I'm not planning on staying that long."
The word 'Good" formed in her mind, but she didn't dare speak it. If she and this Master Jedi were to be traveling together, she would have to be civil, no matter how little she trusted him.
"I do not agree with Master Yoda on this. Jedi who have gone to the Dark Side cannot be turned."
She had to admit one thing about him. He got the point quickly, but his quick and stubborn assumptions annoyed her greatly.
"Master Yoda claims that our love will save him."
A slight hmph from the powerful Jedi sparked a fire deep within Padmé and she stood a little bit taller and looked him squarely in the eye.
"I love him Master Windu. I will bring him back."
He nodded, but Padmé could read the skepticism on his face. "And if you fail?"
"I won't." She raised her chin even higher.
"If you do, you must allow me to do my duty."
Padmé thought his words over.
As she slowly realized his meaning, her eyes widened and her body slumped slightly.
"You mean to kill him, don't you?"
"I will do as the Force leads me to Senator."
"I won't let you."
A rare smirk crossed the Jedi's face and it angered Padmé, her shoulders once more straightening.
He turned to leave, but was halted by her grasp upon his robe.
"Promise me you won't hurt him until I have a chance to talk to him."
She waited for him to respond.
"Promise me!"
He didn't turn to face her again, but his words sent shudders to her very soul.
"When you see him, you won't know him. The Dark Side has twisted him. He is dangerous and evil. The Obi-Wan you knew and loved no longer exists. You should be prepared for the worst."
"You're wrong Master Windu." She did not hesitate in her reply.
Windu stood silently with his back turned to her, and then with a single nod, Padmé watched the dark brown cloak flap behind him as he exited her apartment.
They both loaded onto their ship the next morning with Mace in the pilot's chair and Padmé joining him at the co-pilot's. It had been a while since had been off Coruscant, but the re-emergence of the Sith and the catastrophe of one of their own Jedi being taken by the Dark was enough to lure him from the Temple.
Yoda had been right in sending him on this mission. It was of vital importance.
Yoda could not have come himself. He was too emotionally attached when it came to the boy. He had been Qui-Gon's student after all and everyone knew how Yoda had felt about Qui-Gon. No. Yoda was too close. Mace was the only one who could judge this situation with clarity and honesty and do what he had to if the time came for it.
Setting the nav control computer for Mustafar, he glanced over to Padmé who sat silently.
Thank the Force. He wasn't sure he could put up with her idealistic and emotional opinions right now.
She had said she loved him. Could love possibly save Kenobi? He had his doubts, but it was worth a try. He would let her try, but if she failed, he had no choice to destroy what Obi-Wan had become. A Sith. It was the Jedi's duty to destroy the Sith. They fought to destroy the very peace of the galaxy.
He could feel that peace being threatened even now. The Force was drawing him closer and closer to the dark pit where Obi-Wan had been hiding with his Sith Master. Mustafar. It was a volcanic planet with strong dark force power. Kenobi had obviously been taken there to train after his disappearance. He was becoming powerful with the Dark Side. Windu could feel it as they drew nearer and nearer to the fiery planet.
Mace set and engaged the hyperdrive and then sent his mind through the Force across the galaxy, navigating his way to the dark forces surrounding Mustafar. He gritted his teeth as he was mentally slammed by a tidal wave of hatred, anger, fear, rejection, loneliness, and pain. Screams of anguish seared through his mind and he pulled back quickly.
A steely grip reached out as if to choke him and within himself he could hear his name being called and a threat of death along with it.
Kenobi knew they were coming.