Thanks for the feedback; it really keeps me going. This is my first Star Wars fic, so bear with me.

Disclaimer: See the prologue.


Chapter 1

Ten years later, on the planet Coruscant

Sari hurried to the Jedi temple, having received a summons from her master, Mace Windu. Slowing her pace, she walked inside, going straight to the council room. She bowed respectfully to Masters Windu, Yoda, and Mundi.

"What's going on, Master?" she asked, looking at Windu.

"An attempt on Senator Amidala's life, there has been," Yoda said, answering for her master. "In need of protection, she is."

"If you're asking me to go, I will," she said. "It's been a while since I've visited with her."

"Remember, this is not friendly visit," Mace said sternly. "And I won't be on this assignment with you."

"I won't be going alone, will I?" She was a little frightened of the idea of going on an assignment alone, without her master.

"No, you will be under the temporary supervision of Master Kenobi."

Her eyes widened with surprise. "But doesn't he already have a Padawan learner?"

"Yes, but we are willing to make an exception," Ki-Adi Mundi told her. "You, Master Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker will be working together to protect the senator."

"Yes, Master," she said respectfully.

"Go and report to Master Kenobi. He's waiting for you at the temple entrance." Windu nodded to her. "May the Force be with you."

She bowed to the Jedi masters and hurried to the temple entrance where Obi-Wan and his young Padawan learner were waiting for her.

"Master Kenobi," she said, bowing in deference.

Obi-Wan was startled by the young woman before him. He remembered Sari Linn from his master's funeral pyre. She'd been six then. Now, she was a beautiful girl, almost out of her coltishness. Her hair was long and golden, falling down to her shoulders, with her Padawan learner's braid framing the right side of her face, not to mention the fact that her slightly pouty-looking lips were sending him down a train of thought that at this moment was forbidden. He swallowed hard, trying to force that train of thought from his mind. She's still a Padawan learner and much too young for such a train of thought, he scolded himself sternly.

Sari fell into step with the two men as they made their way to a nearby speeder. They would go to Senator Amidala's apartment here on Coruscant. She knew she would have to direct her all of her energy in protecting the senator. It would be next to impossible to try to visit another friend while she was here. But then again, considering her problems with her brother, she thought. It might be best if Amara doesn't know I'm here.

Sari had been friends with Amara ever since she'd come to Coruscant to begin her Jedi training almost eleven years before. Whenever she'd had a hard day, she'd always gone to visit Amara and her family, and it seemed to make her feel better. She remembered Amara coming to the funeral pyre for Qui-Gon Jinn, and had been glad of it. She'd come as the little girl's personal support, but had stayed respectfully in the background. Sari had felt her love and comfort regardless.

These days, Amara had enough problems of her own. Her brother had cheated Tattooine gangster Jabba the Hutt and now had a bounty hunter's price on his head. When she'd sent the message to Sari, the young Padawan learner couldn't help but be concerned. She sensed that these gangsters would stop at nothing to get to Diego, even harm his sister.

"Be mindful of your thoughts, Sari," Obi-Wan said softly, yet firmly, startling her back into the present. "They betray you. I know you're concerned for your friend, but it's best she doesn't know you're here for the time being."

"I came to that same conclusion myself, Master Kenobi," she admitted with a shrug and settled back to relax the rest of the way to the apartment. Before long, thanks to Anakin's driving, they arrived at the Galactic Senate apartment building and were taking the elevator up. She tried to tune out Obi-Wan and Anakin's good natured bickering and concentrate on the assignment at hand. Before long, the elevator doors opened and she found herself facing a very friendly Gungan, one she knew all too well.

"Ani! Obi-Wan, meesa so happy to see yousa!" Jar-Jar Binks exclaimed happily, shaking hands with the two men.

"Good to see you again, Jar-Jar," Obi-Wan said cheerfully. "You remember Sari, don't you?"

The Gungan grabbed her hand, shaking vigorously. "Yes, yes, meesa remember yousa, Miss Sari. Yousa training with Obi-Wan now?"

"No, Jar-Jar," she responded with a rueful grin. "Just working with him and Anakin."

"Come on in. Desa Senator Padme's waiting for you." He turned back to the living room. "Senator Padme! Desa Jedi arriven. Lookie, lookie, Senator."

Obi-Wan was the first to shake hands with the senator, and then turned to Sari. "Master Windu thought it would be best if his Padawan learner were with us on this assignment. Safety in numbers, I'm sure."

She nodded, shaking hands with Sari before seeing Anakin. "Ani? My goodness you've grown." She smiled.

Sari snickered quietly as she watched Anakin stammer before her. "So have you. Grown up beautifully, I mean. For a senator, I mean," he was saying.

Padme grinned. "You're still that little boy I met on Tattooine." She walked with Obi-Wan to the sitting area.

Sari hung back with Anakin long enough to smirk and whisper in his ear, "Get your tongue off the floor, fellow Padawan learner." She giggled and hurried after Padme, Obi-Wan, and Padme's security detail before Anakin could retaliate.

This assignment was going to be interesting indeed.