Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.

CHAPTER 3

Voyage


Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker strode down the endless corroder side by side, using the glow of their activated lightsabers to help light their way. Relying on the guidance of the Force, they deftly moved towards the hatch entrance that had first led them into the underground outpost that resided beneath the icy terrain of Hoth. They were both eager to emerge from the confining space and greet the fresh air that awaited their deprived lungs above, even if it did freeze them in the process. Beside Obi-Wan, his old apprentice studied a black lightsaber hilt in fascination while they drifted along.

"I haven't seen this design before," Anakin observed, igniting the crimson blade that had previously belonged to their attackers. "How do you suppose they got their hands on these?"

"With any luck, our questions will soon be answered and our problems will all be solved," Obi-Wan replied simply. "If they were indeed acolytes of The Falard, I can only assume that their leader is somehow involved in the illegal weapons trade. We will need to speak with the Council before we can be sure."

"Weapons this rare would cost a fortune," Anakin pointed out as he deactivated the weapon. "Such a vast amount of spending would be sure to arouse attention from other dealers. It's possible that we may be able to trace the source through past transactions and determine the identity of the buyer."

"Good thinking, Anakin," Obi-Wan retorted with a smirk.

Anakin quirked a suspicious eyebrow when he noticed the amused expression on the other Jedi's face. "What's so funny?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing," Obi-Wan answered, his smirk not fading. It grew even wider when a look of annoyance and impatience flashed across his former padawans features.

"Keeping secrets, Obi-Wan?" Anakin ridiculed.

"Not at all," Obi-Wan nonchalantly replied. "I was just thinking about the changes you have gone through since your adolescence. I am glad to see that you have finally learned to use your mind rather than your physical strength to overcome an obstacle, that is all. Not that long ago, I believe you would have used the term…'aggressive negotiations'?"

The corner of Anakin's mouth curled up into a lopsided grin at Obi-Wan's remark. "Aggressive negotiations should only be a last resort for a Jedi, isn't that right?"

"Yes, that is correct," Obi-Wan confirmed with a chuckle. "Perhaps you have acquired more wisdom than I give you credit for as well."

"A point I have tried to emphasize time and time again, Master," Anakin said as his grin broadened. "Besides, sometimes drastic measures require us to use body over mind."

"Indeed they do," Obi-Wan wryly agreed. "I am only saying – "

"Wait," Anakin suddenly interrupted in a hushed voice, holding a hand up and signaling for Obi-Wan to halt his walking while he did the same. "Stop. Do you sense that?"

Taking a short moment to reach out into the Force, Obi-Wan nodded an affirmative after a brief hesitation. He could feel an approaching presence as it drew near, but he quickly realized that it held no malevolent intentions. "Is that…Master Secura?"

The two Jedi Masters sighed in unison when a feminine silhouette gracefully stepped out of the shadows. They instantly recognized the Twi'lek woman and proceeded to make their way over to her, easing their defensive stances.

"Aayla, what are you doing down here?" Anakin questioned.

"Well, I had originally intended to rescue you, but it appears as though you don't need to be saved," Aayla Secura answered as she pulled her hood down to fully reveal herself. "I found Skywalker's tauntaun dead topside and assumed that you must have come down here when I saw the hatch."

Anakin's eyes slightly widened. "Dead?"

"From what I could tell, it had sustained a broken neck."

"The wampas," he bitterly muttered in response.

"You risked your life by coming after us," Obi-Wan admonished the Twi'lek Jedi. "You shouldn't have put yourself in such a dangerous situation, Master Secura."

"Scold me all you want, Master Kenobi, but I was not about to leave you both out here to freeze to death," she sternly protested. "Now, shall we continue to stand here and bicker or will we be returning to headquarters?"


Sabe couldn't contain a smile as she admired the impressive sight of the Naberrie family Lake Retreat from her seat in Paddy Accu's water speeder. Accu, the islands long time caretaker who still watched after the land when its current tenants were called away, steadily steered his wave-riding gondola speeder towards their destination while his passenger silently regarded the lodge with a look of undeniable joy and fondness shining in her eyes. The former handmaiden had been to Varykino numerous times throughout the years, but the beauty and pure splendor of the natural setting never ceased to amaze her. The marvelous reflections that danced upon the clear water and the lush wildlife that swept the rolling mountains was enough to take anybodies breath away. She couldn't help but envy Padme for getting to live in such a lovely place, though her beloved friend had no doubt earned her retirement…for as long as she had known her, the ex-Senator had never thought of or considered her own well-being, she had always put others ahead of herself. Whether she was sitting atop the royal throne in Theed or striving to better the galaxy from within the ranks of the Galactic Senate, she had made sacrifices and decisions that most could not bare to make. In her opinion, the people always came first and her own comfort came second. Padme's selflessness was one of her many honorable and endearing qualities.

As Sabe and Accu approached the landing platform at the base of the lodge, the delighted handmaiden glanced down at her luggage one last time to make sure everything was in order. Luckily, it was.

The speeder docked several minutes later and its engines died down, the sloshing water lapping up against its side as it quieted. Accu quickly hopped up from the drivers seat and out onto the shore, politely extending a hand and offering his assistance to help his passenger out of the parked vehicle. Sabe gratefully accepted it and climbed out. She immediately began to search the area for Padme from where she stood, but there was no sign of her or her two droids.

"That's odd," she commented aloud. "I would have at least expected Artoo and Threepio to be out here waiting for me."

"Perhaps they are occupied at the moment," Accu replied as he carried her luggage over to her side and set it down. "I can take your belongings inside if you would like, milady."

"Oh, I'm sure that won't be necessary," Sabe assured him with a kind and genuine smile. "I will send them after it once I find them. Thank you, Mister Accu, I do appreciate you giving me a ride."

"Think nothing of it, milady," the caretaker said as he respectfully inclined his head. "Be sure to give the Naberrie's my best wishes."

Sabe formally nodded her head in return. "I will."

With their final exchange, Sabe turned away and started towards the stairs that led up to the lodges' main terrace. She walked at a leisurely pace and basked in the warmth of the blissful environment. She suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of…freedom. After years of dedicated service to Naboo's reigning monarchs, she had finally decided to resign from her position as chief handmaiden at the Theed Royal Palace, thinking that it would be best to step down at the end of Queen Jamillia's term instead of continuing her work. Much like Padme, she now had the opportunity to simply enjoy life and do whatever she wanted…and the first thing on her agenda was to pay her oldest and dearest friend a visit.

Once she had reached the top of the illustrious staircase, Sabe curiously searched the veranda in hopes of locating Padme. Once again, she was nowhere to be seen. Dismissing her friends' peculiar absence, she strolled through the opened doors that led off of the deck and made her way indoors.

She found Padme a short time later, alone in the main sitting room while a calm fire burned beside her, illuminated the shadows cast over the lavish living space by the elegant curtains that hung in the expansive windows. Her heart tugged in her chest when she saw that her friend had her face buried in her hands, her shoulders slightly trembling as she quietly sobbed. She immediately rushed to her side to console her.

"Padme, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly, wrapping one arm around her shaking shoulders in a comforting embrace while she delicately rested her free hand on her knee in an attempt to draw her attention. "Are you okay? Tell me, what is it?"

Removing her face from her hands, Padme didn't seem to be the least bit surprised to see her lifelong friend as she turned her tearful eyes to meet Sabe's imploring gaze.

Seeing someone whom she considered a sister in such a fragile and vulnerable state was truly upsetting, but Sabe refused to allow her own feelings to surface. Padme was in pain and she would do anything she could to help ease her suffering.

"Padme, tell me," she softly urged.

"An…Anakin," Padme choked out as she fought to compose herself. "He and Obi-Wan went missing yesterday. Sabe, you know how dangerous Hoth is. What if something happened to them?"

"Padme, I'm sure they will be fine," Sabe replied, doing her best to sooth her worried friend. "They have both been through so much – they will be alright."

"Do you know what the survival rate for Hoth is during the night?" Padme nervously countered. "Less than five percent, Sabe. They can't withstand…"

Sabe tightened her hold on Padme when she trailed off and her despair threatened to consume her again.

"I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to him," Padme absently whispered.

Realizing that words of optimism and encouragement would do no good, Sabe remained silent and tightened their embrace even more, allowing her friend to weep.


Pushing her way through a crowd of figures dawning flowing cloaks, a lone woman marched down the labyrinth of hallways that led to her ships main communications chambers. Though she received glares from beneath the dark hoods that shielded the disdain on the various faces of the figures, she knew that they dared not speak of their true feelings for fear of what would happen if they did. Instead, they curtly bowed to show their respect and remained silent until the ominous woman had rounded the corner, hastily disappearing out of sight. She could feel their spiteful thoughts through her connection with the Force and wanted nothing more than to turn around, to punish them for their lack of praise and discipline, but she had a schedule that she couldn't afford not to keep. They would be dealt with later…right now, her Master was expecting a transmission from her and she knew that he would not take kindly to being kept waiting.

She quickly strode into the communications chambers the instant its doors slid open with a loud hiss, her black cape billowing behind her. Several more cloaked figures stood in the chambers, all of which turned to her and feverishly bowed when they realized who it was that had joined them.

"Get out, I have a call to place," she commanded in a tone that left no room for argument.

Without speaking a single word, the occupants obediently scurried out of the chambers and left her alone. Once the doors closed behind the last retreating figure, she turned to the large screen that rested on the wall in front of her and moved forward to enter the coordinates that she wished to transmit to…the coordinates of her Masters hidden location. Her fingers flew over the keys of the large control board that sat in the center of the chambers as she rushed to access the frequency that she desired to lock onto, but she abruptly stopped herself when she sensed movement coming from a short distance behind her.

"I said get out," she growled, angrily spinning around to confront whoever had been foolish enough to defy her direct orders. Her jaw dropped in awe when she saw the imposing presence that lingered behind her and she immediately took a knee, lowering her head in shame and apology. "Master! I didn't know it was you, please forgive me."

"You do not seek forgiveness, my apprentice," her Master retorted as his yellow eyes fixed on her kneeling form. "You seek validation. So eager to please others…you have already proven yourself to me. If you had not, you would not be standing before me right now."

"Yes, milord."

"If you do not fail me, you have no reason to fear me," he hissed under his breath. "Rise, we have much to discuss."

Ignoring the unsettling shiver that ran down her spine, the woman obeyed and rose to her feet without delay. "I was not told you would be coming aboard, milord."

"That is because no one has been told of my arrival," her exalted mentor casually replied. "And I expect it to stay that way. Now, tell me, my young protégé…what news have you?"

The woman swallowed a restricting lump in her throat before responding. "The Jedi have eluded our forces on Hoth, milord. I haven't been updated further."

"This is unacceptable," her Master sneered as he stalked past his pupil, causing her to involuntarily flinch when his arm brushed against her. "They cannot discover our plans. Have the relics been transported off planet?"

"Yes, milord."

"Then hope is not yet lost," he remarked, anxiously pacing back and forth across the chambers floor. A long, tense silence ensued before he eventually stopped and regarded his apprentice with a satisfied grin. "Actually, this unforeseen turn of events just might work to our advantage."

"Milord?"

His grin suddenly turned feral as he lightly cackled to himself. "I have a task for you to perform."

"Whatever you ask of me, Lord Respian…"


After a hot meal and a change of clothes, both Anakin and Obi-Wan stood before the blue images of the Jedi Council back on Coruscant with full stomachs and warm tunics. Anakin kept quiet for most of the debriefing – never having particularly cared for addressing the elder Masters when it came to discussions concerning assignments – and patiently waited for Obi-Wan to finish filling them in on their recent incident. He glanced across the Jedi's spacious base and spotted Aayla talking with Stass Allie off in the distance, but quickly returned his focus to the flickering images of the gathered Council as to not appear bored with the conversation.

"There were no survivors?" Mace Windu's holographic image questioned.

"There was one, Master, but he took his own life shortly after the encounter," Obi-Wan somberly answered. "It is my speculation that whoever he was, he felt that his allegiance lied elsewhere and he found his duty more important than his own existence. I honestly believe that he didn't wish to be taken and interrogated."

"Disturbing, this news is," Yoda chimed in. "Meditate on this new threat, I will."

"In the meantime, Obi-Wan, the Council requests that you and Anakin return to Coruscant as soon as possible," Mace said as he thoughtfully rested his chin on his hand. "We will need you here if we are to get to the bottom of this."

"Master, if I might make a request of my own to the Council," Anakin spoke up, breaking his silence. He proceeded only after all eyes had met his position in the room. "I have been away from Naboo for almost a month now."

"Requesting a leave of absence, are you?" Yoda asked with a puzzled expression.

"Not long, Master, I just – "

"Granted, your leave is," the diminutive Master interjected, not even giving the younger Jedi a chance to plead his case. "Return home, you will, for two days…no longer. Need you, we still do."

"Thank you, Master Yoda."

Anakin couldn't hide his excitement, but he struggled to keep a mask of propriety up to visibly lessen the ecstatic feeling of anticipation that filled him. He knew that none of his fellow Masters were falling for the act, but at the moment he didn't really care. He would soon be returning home, to the sanctuary of Naboo…to his love, Padme.