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When Obi-Wan saw his Padawans return to the apartment, he felt relieved. He knew that they were perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, but still...he worried about them. There had been missions where they had been on their own at times, but it had always made Obi-Wan feel a bit uneasy.
But there was no denying that they had become great Jedi. At eighteen and nineteen, they were still young, but Obi-Wan knew that knighthood was not far off for them. Although, somewhere deep in his heart, Obi-Wan did not want to let them go. There was no doubting their accomplishments, and of course, attachment was forbidden, but the three Jedi had become more than a Master and Padawans. They had become a family. They had become friends.
When they walked quickly into the apartment, Obi-Wan let out a breath that he had apparently did not know that he had been holding. "Where have you been?" He asked, perhaps a bit more forcefully than he had meant to.
His Padawans simply gave him a glance that clearly said that they would discuss it later, for Padme and Captain Typho were both looking curiously at the three Jedi. Finally Padme asked, "Did you catch the assassin?"
Obi-Wan quickly interjected. "Senator, as I said before, I am afraid that you are no longer safe here. We must confer with the Jedi Council, I do not think that you should stay on Coruscant any longer."
Padme stared at Obi-Wan, "But the vote...the Military Creation Act. I have worked for a year to defeat it, I cannot miss it."
Obi-Wan knew that she would not back down easily, "Senator, I am afraid that you are in great danger. At this point, I fear that you may have to miss the vote. I will not put your life in further danger."
Padme's eyes traveled across the Jedi resentfully. Finally, she gave a small nod of acquiescence.
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Anakin, Sarah, and Obi-Wan stood before the Jedi Council, and Anakin and Sarah gave their report of what had happened. Mace Windu stared intently at the Jedi Council. "And the assassin gave no clue as to who they were hired by?"
"No," Sarah answered.
Mace shared a quick glance with Yoda. "Most disturbing, this news," the Jedi Master said quietly. "In grave danger, Senator Amidala is. Agree with young Kenobi, the Council does, no longer safe is Coruscant for Amidala."
The Force seemed to sweep across the twelve members of the Council, and without speaking, they reached a decision. Mace Windu looked at Obi-Wan for a moment before speaking, and he said, "Obi-Wan, you must find this bounty hunter, we feel that whoever it is holds the key to this mystery." Obi-Wan nodded.
Mace's eyes found the two Padawans. "Anakin and Sarah. You must protect the Senator at all costs. You must take her back to Naboo. She will be safer there." Anakin nodded, barely able to contain his pleasure. The thought of protecting the beautiful Senator made his heart feel warm.
Sarah glanced quickly at Anakin, and she nodded as well. Obi-Wan noticed that there appeared to be almost a bit of hesitancy, but he could not be sure. There was a small feeling inside of Obi-Wan that he could not place when the Council had given his Padawans their assignment, but ignoring it and bringing himself back into the moment, the three Jedi bowed respectfully, and left the Council Chambers.
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When the Jedi informed Padme of the Council's decision, she had let out a small sound of disdain, but she had restrained from saying anything. She then set to packing for the trip home to Naboo. Sarah's eyebrows raised slightly when she saw the many suitcases and large dresses that the Senator was bringing with her. Jedi would often go on a long mission with nothing but a spare tunic and a survival pack.
Anakin, on the other hand, was staring at Padme with a gaze that exposed his feelings clearly. He was about to say something when Padme spoke. "I can't believe how much you've grown, Ani. It seems like just yesterday you were that adorable little boy who saved our ship on Tatooine."
Anakin felt his cheeks burn, and when he glanced at Sarah, she did not make eye contact, but there was no doubting the smirk that was dancing on her lips. He felt his blush deepen even more. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject.
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The Jedi stood outside, preparing to board the transport to Naboo. Anakin had pulled Obi-Wan aside and had given him the toxic dart that he had pulled from the clawdite's neck the night before. Anakin had turned, eager to get back to Padme, but Obi-Wan had grabbed his arm. "Padawan. Promise me that you will stay on Naboo and not put yourself, or the Senator, into anymore danger."
Anakin had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes. "Of course, Master."
He went to make his way back, but Obi-Wan held firmly onto his arm. "Promise me, Anakin."
Anakin looked at Obi-Wan, upset that he was once again being treated like a child, and he grudgingly said, "I promise Master." Obi-Wan let go of his arm, and watched him walk back to Padme, the odd feeling only seeming to grow stronger.
Obi-Wan turned to Padme and said, "I will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, Milady."
She gave him a small smile, "I will be most grateful for your speed Master Kenobi."
As Padme said goodbye to her handmaiden, Obi-Wan took Sarah aside, "Sarah, please, watch Anakin, make sure that he does not do anything foolish."
She looked at him, and then glanced at Anakin, when she looked back at Obi-Wan, a knowing feeling seemed to pass between the two. "I will Master."
He gave her a firm look. "Do not leave Naboo. If you need me, just contact me and I will come. Be careful, trust your feelings."
"We'll be fine Master...I promise." She gave him a reassuring look.
"May the Force be with you, Padawan," he said, giving her a small nod.
She smiled in return. "May the Force be with you, Master."
Obi-Wan took a deep breath as he watched his Padawans and Padme walk away, R2 following not far behind. Sarah turned and gave Obi-Wan a small wave. He returned it and ran a hand through his beard. Obi-Wan looked at the small dart that Anakin had given to him. He would take it back to the Temple for analysis.
He waited on the platform until the transport took off, and he headed for the Temple, not even sure where he would begin.
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On the grimy transport, Anakin and Sarah sat with Padme at a small table, while Artoo got them food. There had been some time of slightly awkward conversation between the three. Padme could not believe how much Anakin had grown. Their talk turned to the Jedi Order. Padme looked at the two Padawans and said, "It must be difficult, having sworn your lives to the Jedi. Not being able to do the things you like or see the places that you want to see."
Anakin had been about to respond, but Sarah had quickly interjected. "A Jedi does not crave those things. Our lives are in service to the Republic, not to ourselves."
Padme looked taken aback. "I know that, I was simply saying that it must be difficult sometimes."
Anakin gave Sarah a hard stare and then gently replied, "It can be difficult."
Sarah looked back at him, "But it is the life that we choose. Not everything has to be easy."
"I suppose that the life of a Senator is similar in some ways to the life of a Jedi," Padme said. "We work to improve the Republic...make life better for others."
"But you do it from behind a desk," Sarah said. "You say that you work to improve the quality of life for others across the galaxy, but you do not go to these places and see the destruction, instead you debate it endlessly in the Senate, never actually accomplishing anything. The Senate is too caught up in its own politics to act quickly. How is that similar to the work of a Jedi?"
"I don't disagree that the Senate has its problems, but we do our best," Padme said defensively.
Sarah looked at her intently, "Well, sometimes 'our best' isn't enough, is it? 'Our best' doesn't stop people from dying...all it does is support some twisted form of political self-satisfaction."
Anakin looked at Sarah, shocked at her words. She had always been the pinnacle of Jedi calm (except when it came to flying). He quickly changed the subject, not wanting this to turn into an argument, but he could see that Padme would not soon forget it.
After a short while, Padme excused herself for a moment, and the two Jedi were left alone. Anakin turned to Sarah, "What the Force was that about?"
Sarah looked at him, fire shining in her blue eyes. "She's a politician, Anakin. If she is a representative of the Senate, then she should be able to properly defend its actions."
Anakin raised his eyebrows, "If you say so."
Padme returned then, and Artoo brought them food. The three then spent the rest of the trip making small talk, and after a short while, Anakin and Padme drifted off to sleep. But slumber evaded Sarah. Her eyes traveled from Padme, who was sleeping so peacefully, to Anakin.
Yet Anakin's sleep was much less serene. She could see that he was once again having a troubling dream, for his face was grim and lined with fear. Her heart broke that he was so often plagued with these nightmares. Only, she knew too well that Anakin's dreams so often had an uncanny knack for becoming much more than simply...just a dream.
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A/N: "Master, destroyers!" (Sorry).