"But Master Yoda, we can't just run away. I need to stay and clear our names, and find out who is responsible for all of this!"
Yoda halted the forward movement of his hoverchair as they reached the ramp of the ship that would take the two of them to Dagobah.
"Kenobi is right, Senator. In danger you are. Leave, you must."
The sound of quickly approaching footfalls echoed across the expansive hangar and Obi-Wan glanced up to see Anakin carrying his largest pack. He thanked the boy, took the pack and ruffled the young teenager's hair.
"Be good Anakin and stay out of trouble. I'll be back soon."
"I will." The boy responded. "Be careful Master."
Yoda then reclaimed Obi-Wan's attention. "Three days to Dagobah it will take. Once there, scanned you cannot be, but conceal the ship you must. Entered the coordinates for my personal home I have. Offer you shelter, it will."
The clawed hand held out a datapad which Obi-Wan took and tucked into his inner tunics.
"Contact you when news we have heard."
Yoda's large green eyes then turned to Padmé. "Master Windu and I, investigate your case while you are gone, we will."
"Thank you Master Yoda."
Just then, Yoda's comlink chirped. It was Mace Windu's voice at the other end.
"Security forces have arrived at the Temple."
"Understood. Be there soon I will."
Padmé entered the waiting ship while Obi-Wan turned once more to lay a hand on Anakin's shoulder and say goodbye. Before the loading ramp raised, he turned upon hearing Yoda call out his name.
"Watch out for the lordac, you should."
"What?" Obi-Wan barely heard the message over the rumble of the ship's engines as they ignited.
Once out of the Coruscant atmosphere and having set the controls for hyperspeed, Obi-Wan leaned back in the pilot's seat and ran his hand through his beard. Questions were runningthrough his mind. How long would they need to hide? Would Master Yoda be able to discover the truth? Who was trying to kill Padmé? And why?
A soft voice soon brought him out of his reverie and heturned to look into a pair of deep brown eyes.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to go lie down. I'm quite tired."
It was the first words spoken between them since they had left Coruscant.
"Good idea." Obi-Wan replied momentarily. "Rest well."
He watched Padmé as she left the bridge of the ship and was about to turn his attention back to the navigational controls, when her movements caught his gaze and for some reason, he was unable to take his eyes off of her.
As she walked away from him, her fingers began pulling the clips holding up her long dark curls. She shook her head slightly as the upsweep of her hair was released and the dark, thick mane came tumbling down across her shoulders and back.
Once she had entered the hallway leading to the sleeping cabin, she was no longer in sight, but Obi-Wan was still watching where she had walked with a look of complete amazement on his face. For the first time since meeting her on Naboo all of those years ago, he was just now realizing how very beautiful Padmé Amidala was.
Padmé entered the small cabin and immediately began taking off the restricting velvet gown she had been wearing for two days, her fingers working at the numerous buttons down the back. She finally freed herself from it and lay the gown aside. Then she lay herself down on the sleeping couch dressed in her white lace under-garment only and shivered. Thankful that she had least chosen to wore the longer under-garment, the upper portion of it covered very little and she reached toward the end of the couch to retrieve a thick blanket. Space was cold and she wrapped her small body in its warmth and curled up on the couch.
She was extremely tired, she discovered, but her eyes remained wide open and her mind was busy with questions.
Who was trying to kill her? Was it possible that someone had discovered the list? If they did, how would she find out being so far away?
She adjusted her position on the bed and lay on her side.
What a week! First, she was arrested for a crime she didn't commit, and then she was almost killed! If it hadn't been for Obi-Wan, she would have been.
Obi-Wan.
Her eyes looked toward the door of the cabin. At least she would be able to enjoy his company during their exile. Or would she? She had to honestly admit that she didn't know the Jedi Knight all that well. Would they even get along? And how long would they be together on Dagobah anyway?
One thing she did know was that she owed him her life. She would have to remember to thank him later. But would he even accept a thanks? As a Jedi, he probably considered it his duty to protect her. She wondered if that was all he was doing now. His duty.
And as Padmé's eyelids drifted shut, she also wondered one more thing about her mysterious Jedi escort. She wondered if he had any idea of how very handsome he was.