Terryal was leaving the Main Control Room, looking no more sketchy than normal. Of course, that could have simply been a well-practiced illusion. He was just closing the door when a most accusatory padawan accosted him.

Mel leaned against the opposite wall, trying to look both sophisticated and threatening at the same time. "So. Going off to reveal more secret information, or are you just running away?"

He blinked at her, looking vaguely surprised though in a sort of wet, cold-blooded fashion. "What ever do you mean?"

She twitched her nose, looking displeased. "I'm talking about you alerting that Rebel fleet." She did not give reasons for this theory, though they seemed clear enough to her. Perhaps this was because she had no concrete ones, nor any evidence. It was more gut feeling than anything.

There was a pause, as he processed that last comment. He felt suddenly relieved, and nearly started laughing. "I didn't, believe me. I owe the Empire far to much to chance my life on it." He then brushed past her, looking like that had been the funniest thing to happen to him all day.

Mel stood there glowering suspiciously after him, which provoked the following comment. "But if you're looking for spies, why don't you try a little closer to home?" Disregarding that last, cryptic quip, she set off to find something to do.

Unfortunately, that something found her.

She stumbled upon the most unusual trio of persons, or at least, some of the most uncomfortable looking ones she'd seen in a long time. It was composed of Katie, Vader and obi-wan, which was practically guaranteed to be awkward. Katie and Vader kept looking at each other as though they had been planning to (or interrupted during) have some sort of make-out session. Obi-wan was basically the only one talking, babbling on and on pointlessly, looking thoroughly amused at keeping them from what they wanted to do.

"Oh, hello." He called out jovially when he caught her eye. "I was just commenting on how I needed to find you." He gestured for her to join the not-so happy semicircle.

"So… what's going on?" Mel couldn't help feeling slightly concerned. Generally speaking, Obi-wan was subtler when it came to wrecking havoc.

"Well, there are plans to end the standoff with an offensive later tomorrow, and we were discussing what to do with you two." What he did not mention was that the offensive was most likely to come from the other side first. "Obviously you can't be involved, and as there is a chance of infiltration, leaving you wandering about is an equally bad choice. But locking you up is hardly fair, and not particularly safe either."

Now Mel was really worried. When was the last time Obi-wan was concerned with what was fair? She blinked in reply, unsure of why he was making such a big deal out of telling her what they were talking about. It didn't really matter, after all. Most likely he had his own agenda, one that she didn't understand.

If it could be called conversation, with everyone but Obi-wan quiet and uncomfortable, then the conversation dragged for quite some time before the unanimous agreement was to trust them to stay in their room. Mel had still not figured out why this really mattered now, or why Obi-wan was acting oddly. He'd been much too much like himself at his worst, but there had been a decided lack of enthusiasm.

But Mel soon forgot about all this, as something even more out of character (though, later, she would se that is really wasn't) occurred. Vader asked to speak to her, privately. Normally he'd rather spend the least amount of time with her possible, so (unless he was planning to yell at her) this was highly suspicious.

Mel did not openly show her thoughts as she nodded in agreement. She was rather good at it, especially in this cheap-sitcom of a world.

He did not look at her as they waited for the others to leave, (beyond earshot, she noticed) and neither did he relax. This was not entirely surprising, and he had been looking forward to a more relaxing moment with his sweetheart when the ever irritating Obi-wan had had to interfere. He'd been in a bad mood before, and it had only gotten worse.

"So." She commented, feeling something very much like tension mounting. She was a rather brave girl, though not foolhardy, and she couldn't help but feel something in between fear and being threatened.

Turning to face her slowly, menacingly, he began talking as he made eye contact. "You know that you two will be mostly on your own tomorrow, correct?"

Mel unconsciously backed up a pace. "Yes I do. That's sort of what the last half an hour has been about, hasn't it?"

Just as slowly an deliberately as before, keeping her attention on him alone, he reached out to place his hands on the wall on either side of her shoulders, leaning in until his face was scant inches form hers. "I just wanted to make one point very clear. You are going to be on your own, so if anything happens to her…" Her trailed off meaningfully, knowing perfectly well that she understood what he meant. "I would be very, very displeased." Giving her one last long, overly serious glare he backed off, disappearing broodingly around some utterly pointless corner.

Mel stood there, rather surprised. She knew that he didn't like her, and had guessed that he was more than a little possessive. But that had been a blatant, couldn't be more obvious death threat. With a light shiver, she walked off in the opposite direction, feigning coolness. No one needed to know, as obviously, no one but her own Master would actually believe her. Or, perhaps more correctly, they (she!) would believe her, but not want to.

- - -

"You have no idea how much I love you." He said this with a bit more emotion than usual. Anakin was finally getting his TLC, after yet another excruciating hour of having to be polite to such horrid people as Obi-wan.

Katie just smiled back, not commenting on how she thought she could guess. It was so very nice to just be able to forget the rest of the problems involved, and just be. Resting her head against his chest, she found herself relaxing utterly as he stroked her hair. After some fifteen minutes of this, she sighed, and gently pushed away. "I'm sorry, but it's getting kind of late." They had been out here for quite some time before, and she was worried about Mel thinking she wasn't going to come back. She wasn't even sure she trusted herself to leave sometimes.

"Are you all right? You look… tense." Oh, the powers of male observation.

"I am, a bit. You know, what with being under siege and all."

He kissed her again at this, and she let him. She really had been meaning to move on, but the oddest look had crossed his face…

"I just don't think you're safe," He commented, having drawn her back into his embrace.

"Well, obviously-"

He cut her off. "That's not exactly what I meant. What I was trying to get at was, I'd rather you spent the night with me."

She blinked at him, dumbstruck. Whatever she had been expecting, an offer of sex it wasn't. Sure, he'd offer her a different place to sleep, but that was really what is was. Sex. "No, I really-"

He cut her off again, this time with a kiss. It was a more passionate, more savage one than before; she felt her knees buckling and she had to wrap her arms around him to stay on her feet. She even unconsciously moved with him, as he moved closer to the door…

"No." She pushed him away, gently. "I'm sorry, but I'm not ready for this." With a rather curt "Good night." She slipped away towards her own bed. As much as she wanted him, she wanted it on her own terms. She would come to him, when she was ready, not the other way around.