PART 26

"I have wasted enough time, the former senator must be destroyed, kill her by whatever means necessary."

"It will be done my Lord" and the bounty bowed and turned leaving the Emperor.

'I have no leads to go on, this could take awhile'

He just hoped the Emperor would give him the time he needs.

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"I can't go on I can't."

"Don't give up Padme, I need you, we need you."

"I'm sorry."

She gasped as she woke up sweating. It was hard for her to breathe, she shook Obi-Wan waking him.

"What is it, is it another dream?"

"Yes, I feel like I can't breathe."

"It's okay, I'm here" he said as he wrapped his arms around her protectively.

"Obi-Wan I'm afraid; I feel something terrible is going to happen."

"Do you want to move? Go to a more remote planet?"

"I don't think hiding will help, besides, the baby is coming soon, I think it's best if we stay here."

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Obi-Wan spent all of the next morning mediating. Padme's dreams were becoming more and more frequent and it worried him. Reaching out with the force he was able to sense danger, but he couldn't see where or who it was coming from. The dark side was clouding his vision.

'It has to be the Sith' he decided. But was it Vader or the Emperor?

He had convinced Padme they had to leave Ord Mantell, the planet was too inhabited and someone could find them there easily. Reluctantly she agreed and they packed all of their things and bought 3 tickets on a refugee space port to leave Ord Mantell and go to Corellia.

"Once there we can buy a ship, most of the inhabitants are pirates, I think we could get a fair deal" he said packed Sola's clothes.

"Then what?" He could tell she was very frustrated.

"We will deal with that when we come to it, first we need to worry about leaving here safely."

They told Sola they were all going on an adventure, they didn't want to frighten her.

"Is Threepio and R2 coming with us?" she asked as her father got her dressed.

"Yes Sola, the droids will be going too, remember what I told you about using the force."

"That I'm not supposed to use it right Daddy?"

"Right Princess" he said as he finished getting her ready.

"Will we be on our adventure for my birthday?" She was nearing her fifth birthday in a few weeks.

"I can't tell you, it's a surprise, now let's go, your mother is waiting for us."

Obi-Wan carried Sola as Threepio and R2 got their luggage onto the refugee ship. Obi-Wan helped a very pregnant Padme get on board the ship.

"I just hope we get settled in before this little one comes out" she said as Obi-Wan helped her in her seat.

"I'm glad we decided not to find out the gender, it will be a nice surprise" Obi-Wan said trying to make her feel more at ease.

"It will be, but we have to pick out two names."

"I'm sure Sola can help us" Obi-Wan said tickling his daughter in his lap.

Once the ship took off and in hyperspace Obi-Wan started to relax. He was very nervous boarding the ship, using the force to help scan the crowd. Everything seemed to be going okay so far.

The trip was long; the ship had to make a couple stops at nearby star systems. When the ship landed to board more passengers, Obi-Wan used to the force to keep them from being noticed, fortunately Sola and Padme fell asleep for the rest of the way. Both were leaning on Obi-Wan, Sola asleep in his lap and Padme resting against his shoulder. With one around Padme and the other around his daughter, Obi-Wan sat and thought about how he was going to protect the two most important people in his life, soon to be three. Not that he didn't think about Master Yoda and the twins, but Yoda was a Jedi and could take care of himself on Dagobah, and the twins were being loved by their caretakers. But two innocent children were now in danger from the Sith and he needed to do everyone he could to protect them and their mother.

'What if I fail? What will happen to my family? Will they be safe?'

He tried not to think about what ifs, once they got on Corellia and got a ship he can think about those things, he knew he would need to discuss it with Padme.

He pulled Padme closer to him careful not to wake her; he was terrified of the future, sensing something terrible was going to happen. As a Jedi he was never afraid, his trust in the force guided him without fear. Now he was afraid, afraid of losing something important to him again, first the Jedi, Anakin, the twins, and now the risk of losing Padme again and his two children.

He couldn't bear to think about it, he closed his eyes as a single tear dripped down his face.