Thanks for reading, everyone. I noticed a few of you had some concerns though.

Gizzi1213: if Anakin cut off his braid to hide his identity as a Jedi Padawan, would he still be wearing and carrying his lightsaber? I mean, wouldn't it be rather hard to conceal?

There are plenty of places in a fine Nubian robe where Anakin can tuck in his lightsaber, I think. Look at Sidious. He concealed his weapon for decades during his stint as the Senator and then Supreme Chancellor from Naboo. Plus, cutting off his braid was as much an act of defiance I think as it was an act of practicality. I doubt that Anakin would willingly give up such a handy weapon that he could protect Padme with.

Again, thanks for reading! Here's the next chapter.

Chapter 6

I've failed again!

The blaster shots continued to rain down and by now the only task in Anakin's mind was to deflect them away. He could not tell anymore by this point who the assassin was aiming for: the handmaidens and guards that now surrounded the crumpled body of their Queen, or the surprising Jedi, no, former Jedi, that had appeared out of nowhere.

He faced the alcove where the assassin stood now, backing his way slowly towards where Padme lay on the ground and paying no heed to anyone who could be in his way. The assassin, he saw, wore a metal armor that covered his entire body, including his face. Anakin could not recall the name, but he knew that he had seen pictures of this man before. He was supposedly one of the most dangerous bounty hunters in the galaxy, if Anakin remembered correctly.

To Anakin though, it didn't matter who the assassin was. He would take on Master Yoda himself if he threatened Padme in any manner. As he carefully deflected bolt after bolt while trying not to injure the surrounding bystanders, most of whom were already clearing the room in cowardice, Anakin reached through the tenuous but developing connection he had with Padme. She was still alive, he discovered, if only for now. He felt pain from her, though he could not tell how severe it was. Surprise too. The feelings of shock that registered in his head seemed to overwhelm any notions of pain.

Now having acquired the knowledge of Padme's condition, Anakin was now posed with a perplexing dilemma. As the seeds of rage began to blossom in his mind, there were few things he desired more strongly than to go after this despicable bounty hunter and kill him for what he did to Padme. But then there was Padme. Anakin worried about what would happen if he left her side. Were there other assassins out there? And she was in pain too? He had to help her, maybe use some of his newly learned Jedi healing techniques on her.

What if it was already too late, he thought morbidly. He had already seen the bolt hit her right on the back of her head. He had smelled the deathly stench of burnt hair. Very few would survive any wound that would result, and such survivors were the unlucky ones. Such a grievous thought purged everything out of Anakin's heart with the exceptions of anger and hate.

Without making a conscious decision Anakin reached across the chamber in pure reflex and the assassin found himself hurling through the air and slamming violently down from the alcove onto the chamber floor. The presence of a Jedi had surprised him and made his mission, or rather his escape, much more difficult than he had hoped, but nothing could prepare Jango Fett for what was about to happen next.

Even after twelve years as a Jedi Padawan and five as a Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi still recoiled at the devastation he found on Tatooine. His companion Master Adi Gallia was undoubtedly contemplating the larger implications of what she saw, probably working around in her mind her impending report to the Council, but all Obi-Wan could think of was his Padawan. Anakin, what have you done?

Their first task upon arriving on the Outer Rim planet had been to locate Master Ki-Adi Mundi. The former Ki-Adi Mundi, they discovered. The wise veteran of the Jedi Council had perished in a speeder crash in the nooks and crannies of Beggar's Canyon. As he and Master Gallia collected the Jedi Master's remains, they had discussed and speculated on what could have caused his death.

Master Gallia was an expert pilot, they both agreed, perhaps the most skilled on the entire Council. No matter how treacherous the terrain there was no way he would get into a fatal accident by himself. Master Mundi had been in pursuit of someone, or perhaps he was the prey. Either way, there were few pilots that possessed the skill to outrace the Jedi Master. Unfortunately, Anakin Skywalker had been one of those few pilots since he was a nine-year old boy.

But nothing could prepare the two Jedi for the slaughter they found scattered throughout the desert planet. They had so far located six Tusken Raider camps, completely devoid of life. Cleanly cut limbs and heads were strewn everywhere across the sand. The decapitated had been the lucky ones, Obi-Wan thought. The majority of the corpses were burnt beyond recognition. Obi-Wan could not tell the difference between skin and wardrobe. The stench of the rotting corpses weighing down the air was matched only by the unmistakable odor of boiled flesh. The emotional residue left behind in the breezes of the Force was even more horrifying. Obi-Wan felt horrible pain, both physical as well as mental. And then there were the unmistakable traces of unmitigated anger and hatred.

"This," whispered Master Gallia as she pointed down to the charred remains of a Tusken, her usually soothing voice now stained with morbid finality, "was not done naturally."

"It certainly does not feel right." But then, has anything felt right since his Padawan ran away so many weeks ago? "My senses are off, I think. Something is escaping me though."

"Perhaps you are blinded by your feelings for your Padawan." It was a rare moment when the amiable Master Gallia would admonish anyone, especially a Jedi Knight.

"Of course I care for the boy," protested Obi-Wan. "What kind of master to him would I be if I didn't care?"

"I do not blame you for caring, Obi-Wan." Gallia placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "But you must realize now that Anakin Skywalker is your Padawan no more."

"He is a boy, Master Gallia. Surely you understand that! He's just a boy."

"Face it, Knight Kenobi. Your former Padawan has killed a member of the Jedi Council. And that's nothing compared to the fact that he has massacred entire tribes, women and children included, with Sith lightning!"

"Sith lightning…" Obi-Wan's vocal chords failed him as he stared back at the Jedi Master in horror.

"…is exactly what killed this Tusken. I'm sorry, Obi-Wan, but you've been deceived. We all were. Who knows how long Anakin has been a Sith, hiding within us." She turned to leave the incriminating site and walked back towards their speeders.

"No," whimpered Obi-Wan weakly as his feet stood their ground. "He is not a Sith. He's just a boy."

"Perhaps your judgment has been comprised, young Kenobi."

Obi-Wan did not feel his legs following Adi Gallia. He knew what she was going to report to the Council. Her mind was already made in the matter. Case closed. If only he were so lucky.

It was happening again, just as it had on Tatooine. Anakin had already lost control of his actions and his feelings. A part of him watched in horror as deadly electric pulses crept out of his palm towards the fallen assassin on the other side of the chamber. Another part of him laughed in maniacal glee.

The lightning stuck Jango Fett just as he was able to prop himself up. Waves and waves of pain flowed through his metal armor and into his flesh and body. But Fett did not achieve his legendary status by simply giving up in times of difficulty. He screamed in unbearable pain every inch of the way, but in the end his finger found its path to the button that activated the rocket pack on his back. The flames shot out at the floor, and despite singeing the body armor on his lower legs, carried him away from the prying grasps of the deadly lightning and out of the chamber.

The electricity still continued to erupt from his palm. Anakin realized that it was striking bare walls now, destroying the beautiful paintings and murals that decorated the interior of the palace chamber. He did not want to stop; he still barely understood the deadly forces that shot out of his hands, but Anakin knew that there was something wrong about it. Still, the release felt like a drug that lifted all the burdens of the world off his shoulders. He focused on the dark energies of his head, and the lightning that resulted from them. Nothing else existed.

Padme! Padme existed. He felt the stare of her eyes on his back and felt her horror at the scene before her. Anakin cried out in an attempt at self-control. His every muscle strained as he literally felt himself pull back the lightning that still continued to shoot out. Slowly the range of the electricity began to decrease, and Anakin finally gave in to himself. He knelt motionless on the floor for a few seconds, then slowly forced his creaking joints up and turned to face the stares of astonishment he was receiving.

Padme sat dazed on the floor, but the weight of her alarmed stare almost knocked Anakin back onto the floor. Her head was still whole and complete, Anakin noted with relief. Around her stood several handmaidens and guards, including Captain Panaka, whom Anakin recognized from the blockade crisis five years ago. Hopefully, he prayed, the recognition would not be mutual.

His cover was blown. They had seen him use his lightsaber. They had seen him use Jedi Lightning. They knew he was a Jedi. But, Anakin realized, they still did not know who he was. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage.

"I'm sorry to alarm any of you," he stated in his deepest and most official tone. Anakin puffed his shoulders up as he picked up the lightsaber that he had dropped in his dark reverie and tucked it neatly back into his robe. "I am not Leo Naberrie, nor am I related to her majesty Queen Amidala."

"Well, that's obvious enough now." Captain Panaka protectively stepped ahead of the group huddled around the queen.

"It's okay," muttered Padme weakly, but no one seemed to hear her.

"I apologize sincerely for the deception, but I'm afraid it was necessary. I am Ranakin Skyesolo, Jedi Knight. The Council learned of a conspiracy to assassinate the Queen a week ago, and I was sent here to investigate the matter."

"You seem awfully young to be a Jedi Knight, Ranakin." Panaka intentionally addressed him in with the more informal part of his new alias.

"The Jedi value wisdom and abilities in the Force over age, milord…"

"It's Captain. Captain Panaka." Anakin sighed with relief as his deception seemed to work. "May I ask you respectfully, why was the Royal Guard not informed of the Jedi Council's decision."

"Nor was the government informed." No one noticed the pompous Governor until he spoke. Duu Repsaj seemed to have crept out of nowhere.

"The Queen was informed." Anakin gave said Queen a quick glance that no one else noticed. It was a glance of supplication.

To his relief Padme understood his intentions and played along. "Captain Panaka, Governor Repsaj, I personally approved the Jedi Council's recommendations."

"We needed to work in secrecy," Anakin quickly added before Padme could say something compromising. "There were rumors that the conspirators included several high-ranking officials in the Royal Court." He wasn't completely lying, either. Right before the blaster fired Anakin felt waves of anticipation from various places in the room. There were others complicit in the assassination, Anakin now realized, other than the assassin himself.

"This is preposterous," cried Repsaj. Even in indignation, he still maintained his aloof manner. "Surely the Jedi cannot be accusing the Royal Court in this…barbaric act."

"I do not accuse the Royal Court," Anakin said calmly even though he felt like strangling the Governor for his impudence. "Only certain members of it." He stared at the Governor's eyes. Something didn't feel right with him. "Enough haggling though. Our primary concern should be the Queen's safety." It was his primary concern, at least.

Anakin walked steadily towards Padme. Panaka seemed a little uneasy at the sight of a stranger approaching her, but he did not protest. The Jedi gently picked her up and held her in support. "What happened, milady? I saw the blaster bolt strike you in the head." He tried his best to hide the fear that underlined his spoken words.

"I, I felt something, a blow, strike the back of my head." Padme tentatively reached her hand towards the back of her head to indicate the exact location. "And then I fell and blacked out." Her fingers finally reached their destination, and to everyone's surprise, fell onto a trinket that lay beneath several layers of singed hair.

"Your hairpin," moaned Padme. She looked at no one but Anakin. "An…Ranakin, you saved my life."

Anakin tried his best to maintain his composure. "It is the job of the Jedi to save lives," he offered weakly, and then adding as almost an afterthought "your majesty."

"I don't understand," muttered Repsaj.

"What happened," asked Panaka. "How exactly did you save her life?"

"I gave her this," he pointed towards the hairpin. "It is a traditional Jedi charm, containing sacred protective crystals." Lies mixed with truth. "The crystals must have absorbed the first blaster bolt, and I was able to fend off the rest of them." An uncertain fact and a brag.

"We are forever in your debt, Master Jedi," offered Captain Panaka sincerely. He did not look down upon the boy Jedi anymore, for Ranakin had succeeded in protecting the queen where he had failed. "On behalf of Naboo, thank you for saving our Queen's life."

"Thank you, Anakin," whispered Padme into his ear in a voice so soft that no one else heard it. Then, she gave him a formal bow and stated authoritatively, "Master Skyesolo, again I owe the wisdom and foresight Jedi my life, and I cannot aptly express my gratitude."

Her words breathed confidence into him. Authority. That was what Anakin had now for the first time in his life. He had observed others around him wield it for years now. Finally, the slave, the student had become the master.

Gloating inside, Anakin began to use his newfound weapon. "We must vacate the Queen from the capital," he ordered first. Then came the explanation. "The danger has not subsided yet. The assassin has escaped and is still loose."

"My men and I will conduct an extensive search for them." Strangely, Panaka did not feel undermined taking orders from the young Jedi.

"And what of the conspirators you speak of," asked Governor Repsaj.

"That is your job to unearth them, Governor." The young Jedi's eyes seemed to stare straight through Repsaj's soul. "I trust you will find them before they find another assassin."

"Of course."

The Queen finally decided to speak up. It was her planet, after all. Padme felt slightly uncomfortable with Anakin giving all the orders, but he seemed to know what he was doing. She would go along with him now and demand a full and complete explanation later. Sensing his intentions, she went along with them.

"Very well then. I will leave you men to your work. The Master Jedi will accompany me to the Lakes Province, where we will await your results."

"As you wish, your majesty."

Throughout the entire conversation it seemed to Anakin that he was an observer rather than a participant. The terrified young boy watched in awe the Master Jedi Ranakin Skyesolo manipulate and direct the most powerful of the Nubians with ease. As he watched himself accompany Padme away from the crowd, Anakin breathed a sigh of relief and stepped back into the reality.

"The queen is still alive?" Darin Lupes slammed his fist onto the table in a fit of rage. "How can this be?"

"The Jedi know. They've always known. They are probably onto us already right now! He suspects me already, that Skyesolo."

Lupes laughed on the inside as he watched the frightened man rant on. The crime lord knew that he was one of a privileged few who now had the opportunity to watch a Governor and a Repsaj so distraught and humbled.

"This is a mistake," Repsaj continued to ramble. "I should have known it was a mistake from the very beginning. We have to call this thing off now! Oh, I'm ruined."

"No!" The word came from a man who had been silent throughout most of their meetings. He may have not been their leader, but he was their recruiter, the shepherd who had brought the flock together. Out of all that gathered in the hut, none were more recognizable than Cnal-Ides Broos, not even the Governor who would be King.

"Amidala must die," the famous philosopher, writer, and painter stated harshly. "Our planet, our democracy, our entire way of life depends on her death."

"She will suffer, and then she will wish for death many times over before I give her such a blessing." A new figure entered the room, clad in burnt armor and propelled by a jet pack rather than his own two feet. Jango Fett's limbs hung loosely from his torso, as through his pain he surmised that his flesh had already been melded together with his durasteel covering. Still the physical pain he could endure much easier than the humiliation that he would never live down, not even after the death of his prey. "Get me some bacta, and I will finish the job."

"You should have succeeded the first time," admonished Broos. Fett winced inside his helmet, but a part of him respected a man brave enough to scold him. A man brave enough to order the death of his own Queen.

"The public will sympathize with her now that you failed," he said as they all watched the holo-net recording of the speech she was currently giving. It was an inspiring one. The crowds cheered and roared with Queen Amidala as even minutes after an attempt on her life she still had the courage to stand against her would-be assassins. "They will treat her as a martyr. Through her death she will gain a following even larger than the one she has in life. Our democracy will not be able to withstand the consequences."

"What can we do then," asked Repsaj, who still had yet to regain neither his breath nor his composure.

"We must discredit her now in the eyes of the people," replied Broos reluctantly with resolve. "We must seek allies that are…unnatural."