Chapter 10 Imminent Invasion

"Captain, the governor would like a word with you." Vaan announced.

"Oh, great, just what I need; he must have seen that broadcast too. I wonder how many others have seen it." Anakin said.

"Well, probably enough to set nerves on edge; you and the governor are going to have to make an announcement to settle that before this turns into a full blown panic." Obi-Wan told him.

"You're probably right. If he doesn't suggest that, I will." Anakin answered.

The image of Sio Bibble appeared before Anakin looking grave and concerned.

"Captain Skywalker; are all your people safe?" He asked.

"Yes, Governor; Master Kenobi is here and we managed to land both training fighters with very little trouble." Anakin assured him.

"Well, the news of this is all over the Holo-net and I have gotten a great many transmissions. People are worried, Captain." Sio Bibble said.

"I know, sir; but I assure you, we have the situation under control." Anakin replied.

"Under control? Two of your ships came dangerously close to crashing." The governor answered.

"I have grounded all fighters and we have inspected each one. We have pinpointed the damage to each of them." Anakin informed him.

"Each of them? You mean there were more!" Bibble asked incredulously.

"Yes, sir; it was sabotage." Anakin said.

"Sabotage? But why, for what reason?" Sio Bibble wondered.

Anakin took a deep breath before answering that question, "Sir, Master Kenobi and I think that someone wanted to cripple the Air Corps." He told him.

"What! Do you think that we might be…?" The governor began.

"Invaded, yes, we think that might be the reason behind this." Anakin finished.

"Then you must repair those fighters, Captain; we are defenseless, and now, because of the broadcast, the entire galaxy knows it." Sio Bibble said.

"Sir, we didn't watch the entire report; what exactly did they say?" Anakin asked.

"That because of those two incidents today the entire fleet would probably be grounded. They know, Captain." The governor answered.

"Well, Master Kenobi's apprentice may have come up with a solution to that." Anakin replied.

"His apprentice? Isn't he just a boy?" Bibble inquired.

"Yes, but he's a very smart boy, Governor; he suggests leaking a story of our own." Anakin said.

"Ah, saying that the fleet has been checked and cleared to fly! Yes, very clever, this boy." Bibble replied.

"That should buy us some time so that we can find out who's behind this and stop them before it's too late." Anakin told him.

"Yes, but you will not have a great deal of time, Captain; you will have to work fast." The governor said.

"We shouldn't need much; we already know who tampered with the fighters, we just need to find him." Anakin replied.

"Well, that is a start; I will make an announcement right away concerning this." Sio Bibble answered, "That should buy you the time you need. We are counting on you, Captain."

"I know; and we will prevent this invasion, Governor; I swear." Anakin promised.

"Then get to it." The governor told him as he finished the transmission.

"Well, the governor is going to buy us some time." Anakin told all those present. "Now, start fixing these birds. Master Kenobi and I are going to do a little hunting."

"And me? I get to help too?" Zak asked hopefully.

"Yes, Zak; we couldn't manage without you." Anakin answered.

"Right, where do we start, Captain?" Obi-Wan asked, with a ghost of a smile.

"Well, you're the master; where would you like to start?" Anakin replied, smiling himself.

"I think the last place you saw him, Master Anakin." Zak suggested.

"Very good, Padawan." Obi-Wan said. "That would always be the best place to start, wouldn't it."

Before they could get out the door, however, a visitor arrived, "Padme; what are you doing here?" Anakin asked.

"Helping you." She answered simply.

"You shouldn't be here; you should be at home with our children." Anakin told her.

"I can't just sit at home and wait. I know what this is about and I want to help." Padme answered stubbornly.

"What do you know?" Anakin asked.

"That we're going to be invaded again; I'm not stupid, Anakin; that's why they tampered with the fighters – to leave us defenseless." Padme replied.

"Well, you're right, but I don't know what you think you can do." Anakin said. "What did you do with the twins?"

"They're with my mother; what, did you think I'd leave them alone?" Padme answered.

"No, of course not. But I still don't know what you think you can do here." Anakin replied.

"I told you; I can help. Please, I can help you fix some of the damage." Padme insisted.

Anakin sighed, she was almost as stubborn, at times, as he was, "Alright, my love; if you insist on staying, talk to Chief Killian and he will tell you what to do." He answered softly. "You are hard-headed, you know."

"Yes, just like you; we are a pair." She answered smiling. "Where were you going?"

"We know who tampered with the fighters; Obi-Wan and I are going to see if we can't track him down." Anakin replied.

"Are you taking Zak with you?" Padme asked in concern.

"Yes, but don't worry, he can take care of himself." Anakin assured her.

"Well, be careful. I wouldn't want anything to happen to any of you." Padme said.

"It won't; we will all be very careful." Anakin promised and then kissed her on the cheek.

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"Lady Padme is very brave." Zak observed as they walked toward the landing pad.

"Yes, very brave." Anakin said a little sarcastically. "And stubborn and hard headed and…"

"Alright, Anakin; I think we get the picture." Obi-Wan cut him off. "But that is what you love about her, isn't it?"

"Well, yes." Anakin had to admit. "But I still don't have to like her doing it."

Obi-Wan only smiled and shook his head.

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"I still don't understand why anyone would want to attack us." Padme was saying as she installed a new cable into the fighter she was working on.

"When Captain Skywalker catches Kev, we'll find that out." Dav told her.

"The governor is making a statement." Vaan informed them as he turned the volume up.

"Citizens of Naboo. I have come before you with some news of great importance. As you all know, our Air Corps was temporarily grounded earlier today. I am here to inform you that an act of sabotage caused that grounding. Now, before a panic ensues, I want to assure you that the damaged fighters have been discovered and repaired. We are in no danger, so please, relax and go about your lives. The person or persons responsible for this have been identified and their arrest is imminent. Once again, fellow citizens, we are safe and in no danger; do not panic. Thank you."

After the speech, Vaan turned the volume back down.

"Well, that was well done. I just hope it works." Killian said as he replaced the maintenance panel on yet another fighter.

"It will; my husband will find whoever did this and everything will be alright." Padme told him confidently.

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"This is where I was standing when I was talking to Kev." Anakin said as he stood next to the trainer he had been flying.

"Now, which way did you turn after you finished?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Well, I…let's see; I don't remember speaking to anyone else, so I must have turned around and headed for the hanger." Anakin concluded.

"Alright, then I went and sat down next to the nose and Zak, you went over to the other side; didn't you?" Obi-Wan continued.

"Yes, Master; so I didn't see him leave either." Zak concurred.

"Well, that means he could have only gone…that way." Obi-Wan said pointing in the direction of the maintenance shed. "What lies in that direction, Anakin?"

"Not much; he could have hidden a speeder back there, though." Anakin answered.

"Well, let's hope not or we'll never catch him. Maybe he's just hiding back there." Obi-Wan said. "Zak, you stay here; Master Anakin and I will check it out."

"But, Master, I…" Zak began.

"No argument, Padawan. Stay put." Obi-Wan interrupted sternly.

"Yes, Master." Zak answered dejectedly.

"It's just that we don't know what we'll find back there, Zak; I don't want to put you in that kind of danger. You understand that, don't you." Obi-Wan explained.

"Yes, Master; but I am your apprentice. How do expect me to learn anything if you keep leaving me behind?" Zak asked.

"You have many years to learn, Padawan; be patient." Obi-Wan told him gently as he put one hand on his shoulder.

"Patience; yes, Master." Zak answered.

"I was worse than he is; how did you ever find the patience to deal with me?" Anakin asked as they rounded the back of the shed.

"I meditated…a lot." Obi-Wan said with a smile.

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"Be patient, Padawan." Zak said, mocking Obi-Wan. "Alright; but just wait 'til I'm older."

Then he looked toward the maintenance shed.

"What if…" He said aloud as he went to the door. "Master Obi-Wan said I had to stay here; he didn't say anything about staying out of the shed."

He opened the door cautiously and peered in.

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"Well, I don't see any sign of anyone back here. He must have been and gone." Anakin decided. "Now where do we go from here?"

"I don't know, but it has just occurred to me that if he had a speeder, we would have heard it when he left." Obi-Wan said.

"Then where did he go? Do you think he just walked away?" Anakin asked.

"Maybe; in any case, I don't think we'll find him tonight." Obi-Wan replied.

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"How many more fighters do we have to fix?" Padme asked as she helped Killian replace another damaged cable.

"Ten, I think, if We've counted right; and some of them have more than one cable to install." He told her. "Are you getting tired?"

"No, not at all; I'm just worried about getting them all ready to go just in case…" Padme answered.

"Well, we should have enough if that happens." Killian assured her.

"I hope you're right, Chief. I was here during the last invasion, I'd rather not have to go through another." Padme replied.

"You're forgetting, my queen; I was there too." Killian reminded her by using her former title.

"Oh yes, of course; then you know what I mean." Padme said.

"Yes, I know…all too well." Killian answered.

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"I guess all we can do now is keep a guard on the hanger until we can catch him." Anakin said.

"Yes, but we still need to find out who's behind this or the invasion will happen whether we repair the fighter fleet or not." Obi-Wan replied.

"I know; but I don't know where else to look." Anakin answered, exasperated.

"We'll find him." Obi-Wan said firmly.

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Zak's eyes took a moment to adjust to the gloom in the shed. He could see little in the dim light, so he felt for a lighting panel next to the door. When he touched it, however, the lights did not activate.

"Blast." He whispered as he pulled his portable light from his utility belt and turned it on. He shown the light around the shed starting with one side and then moving toward the back and then to the other side. There in one corner, a man was sitting with his back against the wall. Zak moved closer and recognized him as the man who called himself Kev. There was a large blaster hole in his chest and he was obviously dead.

"Uh oh." Zak uttered as he backed toward the door.

"Heh, heh, heh." A voice laughed behind him.

Zak whirled around, "MASTER!" He yelled at the top of his lungs as he drew his lightsaber.