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Back on Naboo, Padme was in her room, packing some more casual dresses than her Senate attire, while Anakin and Sarah looked on. Anakin was happy just to look at Padme, but Sarah was more interested in her surroundings. She looked at the holographs that Padme had on her wall of her childhood.
Sarah stopped when she reached one particular holograph. She picked it up and looked at it more closely. Padme was surrounded by young impoverished children, all smiling, and Padme looked radiant and happy. Sarah looked at it for a moment longer and then set it back down.
She turned back to Anakin and Padme, who was finishing up the last of her packing. Anakin was gazing at Padme as she struggled to zip her oversized suitcase. Finally, she managed, and it was time to leave.
Padme said a tearful good-bye to her family. Jobal pulled her aside and hugged her, whispering, "Stay safe my youngest...stay close to the Jedi."
Padme looked at her mother, and it hurt her to see the sadness in Jobal's eyes. Not wanting to make a show, Padme gave one last round of hugs and they finally set off to the hidden Lake Country.
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Obi-Wan examined the strange dart for what seemed like the hundredth time. He decided that it was time to get a closer look at the strange symbol on the dart. He went back to the archives and stuck the dart under a magnifier. He turned the dart over and when he looked closely, a chill ran down his spine.
Enclosed in the symbol, so small he could barely even see it, was a small pyramidal shape that was terribly familiar. It was the shape synonymous with the Sith. The symbol was whispered about among Jedi Padawans at the Temple, and he had seen a Sith Holocron in exactly that shape on a mission long ago.
Obi-Wan had no idea what he should do. This was serious information. He wondered if he should consult the Council. Deciding against it for the moment, he made a decision. It was now imperative that he find this planet...Kamino.
It was the only option.
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Neither Anakin, nor Sarah could believe it when they saw the Lake Country...it was the most beautiful place that either of them had ever been to. Padme laughed at the incredulous looks on their faces. She had changed into a flowing dress, much less formal than what she would normally wear, and she was showing them around the resort.
Padme showed them to their luxurious rooms, and Sarah decided to stay and meditate for awhile. Anakin hesitated for a moment, and then left with Padme.
Sarah opened the large double doors that led out to a balcony. She stepped outside and let her eyes travel over the stunning sight. She felt the warm breeze around her. Yet she still felt disturbed, for even in this beautiful place, the Force felt dark.
She crossed her legs and began to meditate, hoping that she could find some answers.
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Anakin walked along with Padme. She looked beautiful in her flowing gown, and Anakin was glad to be in her presence, but he almost wished that Sarah was there. Though he would never admit it out loud, she was one of the only people who was ever able to keep Anakin from doing anything stupid.
He walked along the terrace with Padme, and they stopped to gaze out at the sun that was just beginning to set. They were very close to each other, and she was telling him about her time spent here when she was younger.
He looked into her brown eyes, and he was captivated. Before he knew what he was doing, he leaned in and kissed her.
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Across the way, out on the balcony, Sarah's eyes flew open. The tremor in the Force had sent chills down her spine. She rubbed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts, and then she rose and went to join Anakin and Padme.
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On Coruscant, Obi-Wan went to the only person that he thought could help him. A professor at one of Coruscant's many universities, he was an expert in many things, and one of the subjects that fascinated him was the geography of the galaxy. Obi-Wan had gone to Pliiro on many occasions, and every time, he had been able to help.
Obi-Wan knocked on his office door and called, "Pliiro!"
"What? If this is the school dean I did not eat your lunch that was in the staff refrigerator!" Came the response.
Obi-Wan smiled, Pliiro Phoria was an eccentric man, full of oddities and quirks, and could come off as strange to anyone who did not know him. "It's your favorite Jedi in the whole wide galaxy, let me in!"
There was a brief pause, "My favorite Jedi? Well I'll be! I haven't seen Anakin Skywalker in a long time! Wait...it's not Anakin? Well then it must be Sarah! Come on in!"
Obi-Wan heard the door come unlocked, and he strode in, greeting his old friend. "Very funny Pliiro...you never have lost that humor of yours, have you?"
Pliiro pretended to look offended. "Oh, come now Obi-Wan, you know that I always try and be most serious...it makes me more distinguished! Tell me old friend, how are those two little rogues of yours?"
Obi-Wan smiled, "If you mean my Padawans, they are doing very well, thank you for asking. But I'm afraid that I have a more pressing matter to discuss with you."
Pliiro's grin turned serious. "Then sit, sit my friend, and if I can assist you, then I will."
Obi-Wan sat down and pulled out the dart. He showed it to his friend, and Pliiro examined it closely. "There is a symbol there, underneath, and when I looked it up in our archives, it matched with a planet called Kamino, but when I tried to locate it, it said that there is no such planet."
Pliiro was still looking at the dart, but he glanced up at Obi-Wan for a moment and said, "Well, have I not always told you that you Jedi are bad at geography? Of course there's a planet called Kamino! I'm surprised that you don't know it, Obi-Wan."
Obi-Wan was confused. Pliiro continued, "But that planet isn't what concerns me, my Jedi friend, it is this dart."
"What about it?" Obi-Wan asked with interest.
Pliiro laughed, "What about it? Oh Obi-Wan, how you make me laugh! This is a toxic saber dart, used only by the best bounty hunters. If its connected to Kamino, that just makes it all the more interesting."
"Pliiro, I'm afraid that I don't understand."
Pliiro had amusement in his eyes, "What have I always told you Obi-Wan? That Force of yours clouds your judgment! Kamino is a planet of cloners."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened, "Cloners?"
"The best. If these two are connected, I would say that the unfortunate soul that received this dart is against cloning. Kaminoans are very proud creatures. Their clones are their life, and if they're hiring bounty hunters to put these darts in someone's neck, then they've got something to hide."
He handed the dart back to Obi-Wan. "Out there they make clones for all sorts of reasons, and it isn't unheard of for them to produce fighters, it's what they do best."
Obi-Wan still did not know exactly what he was looking for, but he felt as though he was finally on the right path. "Pliiro, where is this planet?"
"About twelve parsecs outside the Rishi Maze," Pliiro said without taking any time to think.
"But Obi-Wan, my friend, I urge you to be careful. Kaminoans make sure that no one ever knows too much about them, and if they're hiring bounty hunters now, you could be in danger."
Obi-Wan nodded, "Thank you, old friend for your help."
"Anytime. I've always got a few moments to spare for my third favorite Jedi in the galaxy. I have a very busy schedule you know, you're lucky to get any time at all with me."
Obi-Wan grinned, "I'm honored. I'm well aware of your busy schedule raiding other professors' lunches."
Pliiro gave Obi-Wan a shameless grin, "What can I say? A man needs to eat!"
Obi-Wan shook his head and stood. He gave a small wave to his friend as he started off down the hall. He heard Pliiro's voice again shouting, "And next time you come, bring those little scoundrel Padawans of yours with you!"
Obi-Wan chuckled as he shouted back, "Sure thing Pliiro, sure thing!"
He exited the building and headed back to the Temple to get a ship. It was time to get to the bottom of this.
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