Chapter Two

It didn't take long for Padmé and Obi-Wan to get ready. Mace had arranged for a transport to take them to Nar Shaddaa…to make it look less suspicious.

When they boarded the transport, they realized that aside from the pilot, they were alone.

Padmé was still physically and emotionally drained. All she could think of was Anakin and the twins…now someone else was being Luke and Leia's mother and father, when Padmé and Anakin should have been together, enjoying the little bundles of joy.

"No," she thought. "He's too busy being a Sith lord to even care about me or the twins; but if only I could see him again…if only I could have a chance to turn him back to the light…"

"Padmé; are you alright?" Obi-Wan asked; his question was of pure concern. Padmé had been just standing there without blinking. "You should sit down," he advised.

The former senator snapped out of her thoughts and wishes. "Oh, of course," she replied quietly. She took her seat next to the Jedi master.

To Obi-Wan, Padmé still looked grief stricken, he was amazed that she still had the will to live on; but he knew that her heart would be scarred forever.

"And this could have been prevented; if only Anakin would have stayed true to The Code…none of this would have happened." The thought of Anakin's mistake made Obi-Wan let out a heavy sigh. He knew that Padmé was a good and strong woman, but that didn't change his opinion of what she and Anakin had done. He had promised Qui-Gon that he would train Anakin according to the ways of the Jedi, instead he had spawned a Sith.

It only took one look at Obi-Wan for Padmé to know what he was thinking.

"I know how you feel about the relationship between Anakin and me," she began, "but we never planned it, I—we never planned on loving each other."

Obi-Wan shook his head and turned away from the galactic view. "I never said anything about you and Anakin planning these feelings. I just wish that you hadn't pursued them. And if he would have stuck to the Code, none of this would have happened."

Padmé was amazed and angered at how Obi-Wan could be stoic about the whole thing. "It's not that easy to push aside feelings when you love someone," she snapped. "Haven't you ever loved someone? If you have then you should understand how Anakin and I…felt. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't," she leaned back in her seat, suddenly wishing that she wasn't sitting so close to Obi-Wan now.

"I have loved someone," Obi-Wan answered; Padmé's remarks hurt him more than he had expected. "But we agreed to out those feelings aside and we stuck to the Code."

"You have?" Padmé asked, "Who is she?"

"Was," Obi-Wan corrected. "At least to my knowledge, Siri is dead."

Padmé was speechless for a moment. "I'm…I'm so sorry," she finally said.

Obi-Wan looked down. "I just hope that she was at peace if she died. I haven't heard any word of her for three years; but despite the fact that she may be dead, I don't regret the decision that we made. It would have only complicated things."

"Don't you think that a Jedi should at least be able to choose whether he or she wants to have a loving relationship with someone or not?"

Obi-Wan looked at her firmly. "I do not question the Code; no Jedi should. It was set down by those who knew that falling in love with someone could only deter you from the path of the light side…for instance, look at Anakin."

Padmé looked down, she could comprehend what Obi-Wan was saying, but she still didn't agree with some of the things that The Jedi Order excluded.

"I'm going to see if I can get a few hours of rest," she said, standing up abruptly.

Before Obi-Wan could say anything, Padmé had already walked off to the small sleeping quarters; she wasn't really tired; she just wanted to escape the conversation…it tore at her heart.

Obi-Wan turned to look out of the window, though what he saw held little interest to him.

"That went well," he thought to himself.

àß

Some hours later, a certain Jedi Master and former Senator walked off the boarding ramp and took in the view of Nar Shaddaa.

"Stay close to me," Obi-Wan cautioned. "This isn't the safest place in the galaxy."

Padmé nodded. "Shouldn't I have a weapon to protect myself, just in case anything unsuspected happens?"

Obi-Wan didn't know what to say to this. On Mustafar, he had taken Anakin's light saber before leaving. It was mostly for sentimental reasons, for that was the lightsaber of Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight, who to Obi-Wan's knowledge at the time, obeyed the Jedi Code. Aside from his own lightsaber, it was the only weapon that he had.

"Well?" Padmé asked, staring at him intently.

"We'll have to purchase something; I don't have any weapons that you can wield."

Padmé grew curious. "Weapons that I can't wield?" she asked; Padmé knew that even though they had an average supply of credits, it wasn't enough to purchase a blaster pistol; they were too expensive in Nar Shaddaa. A futile attempt made by someone, to cut down on the crime and lawlessness.

"Yes," Obi-Wan answered coolly. "I think we have enough credits to purchase a pistol."

"And where are we going to stay, then?" Padmé asked.

Obi-Wan sighed. "I have a lightsaber—you can't wield a lightsaber; so whether we can afford it or not, you must have some means of protection."

Just then, Padmé said the unthinkable. "Let me at least try; if not, then you get your wish. We can buy any pistol you want and we can stay in the most dilapidated place."

Obi-Wan wasn't in the mood for arguing. "Alright," he said, giving in.

Padmé reached out her hand, waiting for him to put the lightsaber in it. Obi-Wan did; but he didn't mention that it belonged to Anakin Skywalker.

Six weeks later…

Things had gone smoother than Obi-Wan or Padmé had expected. Yes, crime was all around them, but no one seemed to bother with them; they were too caught up in their crime wars.

As for Padmé ad the lightsaber, she was beginning to learn, despite a shaky start, and Obi-Wan began to wonder if it was remotely possible that Padmé was even the tiniest bit Force Sensitive, for she wielded the lightsaber like a Padawan, and that was saying something, considering that she had never even held a lightsaber until that day, six weeks ago.

But things were about to change—it happened when Mace Windu decided that it was time he sent Obi-Wan a hologram message…