Disclaimer: all main characters (except Khalee) are owned by Lucasfilms. I just borrowed them for a bit.

Okay, please read & review!!!! I would appreciate it so much! Yeay!

Chapter 1

17 years later

Staring out the window at the scenery, Obi-Wan Kenobi thought over the situation they had been placed in. Great, he thought, we've now become baby-sitters and a taxi service for the Senator. Just what we wanted. A week previous, Obi-Wan and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker had received an urgent message from Senator Amidala who was home on Naboo on vacation. Not only were the two men assigned again as bodyguards to the senator because of some rumors of her being followed, but also the Senator asked them to personally pick up and escort her older sister back to Naboo. She's probably old and decrepit since neither Anakin nor I have heard of her before.

"Good morning Master," Anakin Skywalker announced to his master, who was deep in thought when he entered the room. He's probably thinking about Padme's sister. At least I think it will be nice to meet her, he mused.

"Oh, good morning Anakin," Obi-Wan responded, being drawn from his reverie. "How is the loading of the lady's possessions proceeding?"

"Everything is proceeding well. Her possessions are being loaded very efficiently. Captain Loen says that we may be able to leave well ahead of schedule."

"That's very good news. Well, we should introduce ourselves to the lady and make sure she's settled. Let's go." Obi-Wan commanded.

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This is the second time in my life I have been uprooted from somewhere I call home, Khalee thought as she glared at the ship that had arrived to take her back to Naboo. A message from her sister Padme had arrived two weeks ago. Padme wanted her to come home because of everything that was happening in the galaxy. She was worried for her safety. It had taken a lot of pleading on Padme's part, but Khalee finally conceded. Well, I have missed the beauty of Naboo.... I guess.

"My lady, the Jedi are asking if you are ready to depart to Naboo," questioned the shy handmaiden that had become Khalee's best friend over the years.

"Thank you Sunya," Khalee responded.

"Khalee, are you all right? You've seemed a little withdrawn lately," asked the woman who had been her mentor and mother for the past 17 years as gracefully glided into the room.

"Maani!" exclaimed Khalee as she whipped around and hugged the matron. "I was worried that you wouldn't come to say good-bye!"

"Why wouldn't I, my little flower? You're like my own daughter. And I thought I had taught you better than that," Maani responded with a smile that bordered on being devilish. Khalee grinned back. "You always did know how to cheer me up. What will I do without you?" Maani stroked Khalee's hair as she quietly admonished, "You will be all right, I promise. The Force will be with you to guide you.... and I'll always be a memory away."

Khalee glanced out the window and around the room she had lived in for the past 17 years. "I really will miss it here.... but Padme needs me. And I've missed her so much," she mused out loud. "I know you have my dear, but this is the path that you are now being lead down. Come now. It's time to leave," Maani pleaded so that Khalee did not lose her composure. The graceful matron had known from the first time 17 years ago that she had laid eyes on that shy, scared little girl that everything would work out in the end. She knew through all of her training the secret promise Khalee had made to herself, and that was why a quick departure was best. So much of her life is now here that if she stays much longer she will crumble like dry, stale bread, Maani pointed out to herself.

With that, the three women walked out of the house and toward the ship that would take Khalee and Sunya to Naboo and a new, more exciting life possibly full of danger.

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"Good morning Master Obi-Wan. I see you now have an apprentice. Is he as headstrong and stubborn as you were?" Maani asked the formidable Jedi knight that was standing at the end of the boarding ramp.

"Maani, you old coot, what are you doing here?" Obi-Wan questioned with a smirk on his face as he hugged the matron. Obi-Wan had once spent time with the matron for part of his training learning different calming techniques used by the Jedi.

"I am escorting my charge to the ship. You remember your mission, don't you? Aren't you supposed to be escorting a lady home to her family?" Maani teased back while those watching the scene looked on with both confusion and amusement. "Yes, that is what I am here to do. Where is the lady now?" Obi-Wan said dryly as he was admonished for forgetting his mission.

"Master Obi-Wan, may I present to you Khalee Dinala and her handmaiden Sunya," Maani said with a bow as the two women approached the party, one bold and confident, the other shy and reticent.

"It's nice to meet you, Master Jedi," Khalee said with a curtsy. As she looked into those blue-green eyes of the Jedi knight, she felt a strange sensation course through her body. He was definitely a handsome specimen. The beard is a bit much..... what am I thinking?! She admonished herself.

"And you Lady Khalee," Obi-Wan responded. The lady was about his height, chocolate brown eyes that sparkled with a hidden spirit, long brown hair that was artfully arranged on her head, flawless skin, and very curvaceous. Okay now Obi-Wan, pull yourself together. She's just a mission, nothing else, he thought to himself as shocks of lightning hit him from those crystal clear eyes.

"And this is my Padawan, Anakin Skywalker," Obi-Wan introduced to the ladies as Anakin strode forward. "Lady Khalee, you look remarkably like your sister," Anakin complimented as a wave of memories of the lush beauty of Padme hit him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Anakin. Padme said you would be charming," Khalee responded with a teasing smile.

"Master Jedi, the ship is ready for lau......my goodness!!! Khalee!!" Captain Loen shouted as he strolled down the boarding ramp. "Captain Loen! It's nice to see you again!" Khalee responded as the Captain strode towards her and bowed. "You have grown into a beautiful woman, Khalee. You're mother and father will be proud," the Captain announced, but when he noticed the composed expression yet flaming eyes at that comment he wished he could take it back.

"I'm sure they will be," Khalee said icily. "So, is everything ready? All this small talk is making me antsy to get going."

Oh, that's great. A cranky woman on board a ship of all males. I hope her handmaiden likes her company, Obi-Wan thought as his annoyance at her emotionless outburst came to the surface. "Yes, everything is prepared, my lady. I take it you are ready to leave then," Obi-Wan spat out, maybe a little forcefully, but what was he to do. Temperamental women are not something I can deal with easily, he thought crankily.

"Khalee will be on board in just a moment, Obi-Wan. I need to have a chat with her before you leave," Maani quickly interjected before the tempers she saw brewing in both burst out. "Then I will leave you to it. I am sure there are a few tasks to be done before launch can take place," Obi- Wan said with a bow to the matron. He would always respect her for her perfect timing for delaying outbursts. She was good at that when I was here last, he thought as he walked up the boarding ramp and into the ship to check the fastenings of all the cargo with the Captain, Anakin, and the young handmaiden, who looked extremely frightened to be going anywhere without her lady.

"Now, before you say anything Khalee, please listen to me. Obi-Wan is a Jedi knight and I forbid you to start arguments with him. The Force only knows what will happen if that temper of yours comes out," Maani quickly stated before Khalee could say anything about the arrogant Jedi knight. "Yes Madam, I will obey," Khalee replied automatically to the statement, something she had been saying for the past 17 years.

"Also, my dear, you are not to expose any of your training. I know how hard this will be for you since you have been doing nothing but for the past 17 years...and in the open.... but you know the purpose of the mission, right?"

"Yes Madam, I remember. I will inform you on any suspicious activity involving anyone on Naboo. And I have all the secured link information hidden where you told me to.... along with my Jedi equipment," replied Khalee as the barrier she had erected around her emotions began to fall as she realized she was really leaving. For the past 17 years, Khalee had been training with Maani in the secret ways of the Jedi. The Jedi Council thought she had been too old to become a Padawan when her talents had been discovered, so her parents sent her to a family friend, one they knew was a former Jedi knight and who would help Khalee discover who she really was and all the talent she possessed.

"I will miss you, my little flower. You have truly grown into a wonderful woman and I know you will make me proud. Remember your training.... and remember me," Maani pleaded as a single tear slid down her aged rosy cheek.

"I will remember. Thank you for everything, Maani, " Khalee cried softly into the shoulder of the older woman as she hugged her good-bye. With that, Khalee slowly turned and walked up the boarding ramp. At the top of the ramp, she turned around once more to say her last good-bye to the woman who had raised her. May the Force be with you Master, she sent out to Maani telepathically.

May the Force be with you, Khalee, Maani responded. The boarding ramp started to retract just then, closing the only person she had ever trained fully in the ways of the Jedi. Maani pleaded with the Force to protect her little flower from harm and give her the wisdom to stay true to herself.

As the boarding ramp was fully closed, Khalee turned and saw the Jedi knight watching her thoughtfully, as if he had been there for some time surveying her movements. "Where's Sunya?" Khalee questioned through the heartbreak but with a composed and unemotional look on her face. "This way," he replied sympathetically, knowing that she was leaving a great part of her life behind.

The two stopped in front of her cabin. "Will you be all right, my lady?" Obi-Wan questioned as he moved out of her way and saw the shimmering eyes brimming with tears. "Why wouldn't I be fine?" Khalee choked out tersely.

"I just thought-" Obi-Wan started, but was cut off by an impatient Khalee. "Well, you thought wrong. I can take care of myself." And with that, she stormed through the cabin door to a worried Sunya.

Obi-Wan stood looking at the close cabin door for several seconds then remembered his duties in the cockpit. WOMEN!!!