Chapter Three

Sometimes I felt as if I were hiding out, but it just so happened that the conference area in Padmé's office was in the corner, out of sight of the door. I could easily spend all day there and not see anybody. However, today, she had a plan. She'd been anxiously tapping away on her datascreen for hours and I was pacing. What she was wanting to do could be dangerous and I was trying my best to talk her out of it.

"If you're on lookout, there shouldn't be any problem!" she insisted. "All I have to do is poke around a little. Senator Dodd never stays late. I'm sure he's gone by now. I need proof."

I had to agree, but wasn't there a better way?

"Then, let me do it," I suggested. Surely, I could be more stealth than she would be in the excessive amount of gown she'd worn today. I understood she felt representing Naboo fashion was part of her job, but she could barely make it through a doorway.

"And if you get caught, how is that going to look? I'm not saying you will, but if anybody sees you, it will only make things worse for the Jedi than it already is."

She had a point. "Fine. I'll stand down the hall and watch, but if anyone gets even close, you'll need to get out of there and quick! Don't take any chances. It's not that important."

She glanced at me as if I was joking, when actually I wasn't. Perhaps no longer taking money from the government was what the Jedi needed to do. Then, they wouldn't be obligated to answer to the Senate or the Chancellor, and could proceed as the Force led them, not according to anyone's political agenda.

"It is to me," she said, studying me as I felt that familiar buzz in my brain. /Without financial support, the Jedi will be forced to leave the system and then what? Become paid mercenaries? Bounty hunters? They already follow a lifestyle of limited resources. I'm not about to see them scatter and starve. We need their guidance and protection and they need our support./

I smiled, previously unaware of how passionate she was about the subject.

"Very well," I told her, smiling. "But be careful."

The hallways were mostly deserted, minus the cleaning droids and a few young students who were running about trying to gain favor by doing random tasks.

Senator Dodd's office was one floor up, almost directly above Padmé's, and we took the lift to get there. I was nervous while she was excited and determined.

/How will you get into his files?/ I asked silently.

/There's an administrative pass code to the entire system./

/Is there?/ I asked, somewhat surprised. /And how did you come about getting that?/

Her lips nervously puckered as she stared up at the floor indicator light.

/Do you really want to know?/ she asked after a few seconds.

I, too, glanced above the door and let out a sigh as I prepared a response. /No,/ I decided. /Not really, although I'm accompanying you to work from now on. If you're going to take such risks, I'm going to be here to watch your back./

/Then you don't want to know about me overriding the security system either?/

I closed my eyes and counted backward from ten.

/I could've taken care of the cameras myself,/ I told her once I'd regained some resemblance of serenity.

/And be caught doing your hand thing before they go static? Don't you think that would look a little suspicious?/

Again, she had a point, although I didn't like surprises.

/Next time, will you please keep me informed?/

I was expecting an argument, but instead felt her reach for my hand. The touch relieved some of my anxiety just in time. We had arrived and stepped out into a hallway with the same appearance as the one we'd departed.

/That's his office right there,/ she directed her attention to the left. /If you'll stand just around the curve behind us, you shouldn't be seen from this direction. Just in case./

/Very well./ As she walked away, I released her hand, feeling an instant unpleasant empty feeling.

My senses were cast in either direction, as well as staying on Padmé herself. She had reached the door, but called out to me frantically.

/It's locked! We must've missed the cleaning cycle. Can you open it?/

Once again, I cast my awareness out and it returned back void. Nobody was in this area, and with a quick flick of my wrist, I deactivated the locking mechanism and she entered.

Twenty seconds passed and all was quiet. Thirty, and there was no sign of her. I wasn't ready to react, but I was getting a little worried. Forty-five seconds and I heard footsteps. The Force alerted me to someone approaching from the rear and I stepped forward to appear as if I were walking from the opposite direction.

"Why Jedi Protector Kenobi, I wasn't aware you'd accompanied the Senator in today. Is there something I can help you with?"

It was the formidable-appearing Vice Chair of the Chancellor himself, Mas Amedda who stood before me. He was a Chagrian male with a booming voice, an impressive pair of cranial horns, and superior attitude. What was he doing skulking around the higher floors of the Senate building this time of day?

"You know these young Senators," I told him casually. "They think working all hours will gain them the recognition they desire."

"Indeed," Mas agreed while I remained outwardly calm. "I don't usually see you out and about, however. Did boredom finally get to you?"

"In a way," I told him. "I thought a walk through the place would help."

"We do have an exercise facility in sublevel three," he informed me as his forked tongue flicked out.

"Really? I wasn't aware of that." I told him honestly. "Is it open to the public?"

"Not exactly, but being mated to a Senator, you have full access."

"That's good news," I told him with false pleasure. "I was starting to feel like I was walking in circles."

My attempt at humor fell flat, but I didn't think he suspected anything.

"Enjoy your evening, Kenobi," he told me before bowing slightly. "I hope you aren't held here much longer."

"Thank you, and pleasant evening to you as well," I told him as I watched him continue to walk on. I pretended to proceed the opposite direction, but as soon as I was out of sight, turned and hurried back to scan the hallway.

Amedda came to the doorway where Padmé had entered and paused. My heart stopped for a second and I was about to alert her of his presence. However, he only seemed to be looking at his datareader, which he quickly replaced into his cloak before he continued on his way.

I began breathing again and called out to Padmé to hurry up before I had a stroke.

/Almost done,/ she informed me.

A few seconds later, she stepped out of the office. I met her and we headed back toward the lift.

/Find anything?/

It was a pointless question I didn't need to ask. Her aura was colored with anger and alarm.

/Let's get out of here first. We need to go directly to the Temple. I must speak with Master Yoda./