A/N- Thank you for all the reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter well. Please R&R...

Chapter 39

Location: Naberrie Residence, Imperial Center

1 Day 20 Year 27 BBY

The last heavy box has been moved into the two bedroom apartment. Padme' wipes the sweat dripping from her forehead with her sleeve and peers around in her own space.

In my own space.

She smiles thinking of how hard it had taken to get where she is now. She may not be divorced officially yet, but she is free- she's getting paid for her internship with Bail and heading into a career she wanted to start over a year ago. Her dreams were just put on hold and now they aren't. Technically the space isn't all hers. Sabe is her roommate because the rent on Coruscant is high and if they don't want to live in the poor lower areas of Coruscant, they need to share the responsibilities of working.

Sabe had taken a job as Ruwee junior's nanny a few weeks ago. She loved spending her days with her little cousin. It made her realize how much she wants her own family one of these days.

Padme's eyes drift with her thoughts to her dear sister and her boyfriend. Are she and Ben now in a monogamous relationship? No one really knows yet. Her eyes fall upon the couple laughing at the ridiculous amount of dresses she had brought from the penthouse. Sabe' rummages through them and tosses some to the side, murmuring, " I think these can be donated. I don't think I'm going to need something so formal unless my dear sister needs a handmaiden again."

Padme' watches as Ben huffs as he picks up the heavy load of dresses that will be donated. He sways a bit as the box lurches to the left side and to compensate he pulls it back into the middle of his hands.

" Ben let me help you with those," Sabe complains, trying to take some of the weight of the box off of her beloved.

Ben's gray eyes shine in weariness as he explains, " Sabe, please let me do it. I need to find something I'm useful for."

Sabe's eyes glimmer as if she is thinking of the unspoken topic between them these days. Padme' knows of the unspoken topic, namelying her best friend- well their best friend- hers and Ben's. They tried to stay busy as possible and not think about their friend locked up in the Detention Center he had formerly been interning at. They had all tried to go and see him and to no avail. Even Qui-gon hadn't been able to pull strings to visit his. Padme' didn't know much about Vice Admiral Jinn, but she did know Anakin had worshipped the ground he stood on when they were children. She knew that Anakin and Ben spent a lot of time outside of class over his home. She knew Qui-gon cared deeply for Anakin in a way that Padme' couldn't quite put her finger on it. Perhaps he felt guilty for not training him better to control himself, but anyone who knew Anakin that well knew how well he couldn't control his anger.

It's too bad he didn't kill him. I wouldn't have to plan out his demise myself.

Padme's anger towards her soon to be ex hadn't simmered. She had been using that energy to train three to four times a week with Ashoka. Truthfully Ashoka thought she wanted to train because of the attempt made on her life. But Padme' knows as soon as she's able to figure out how to tackle her ex-husband in a way she won't be connected to his murder, she'd take the risk. Then there is her former handmaiden, Corde'. Corde' hadn't been around the usual places with Rush, so Padme' isn't sure where to find her any longer. How she'd find her and kill her Padme' had already pictured over and over in her mind. Perhaps with the dual blades she had become accustomed to training with.

Ashoka introduced her to the sais a little over a week ago. The blades were dual weapons and light to the touch. Padme' had enjoyed the rush of feeling those blades leave her hands and threw them wildly through the air. Although, they hadn't actually hit too many of her targets yet. She had just landed one sai the other day into a training droid, after hours of trying. She had almost given up and gone back to the regular saber that she had used for training with Anakin. But Ashoka had told her to try it once more. And Bam! She's nailed the droid right in the center of its eye. The rush she had felt that day was unmistakable. Never in a million years did she think she'd get a rush from killing something, although it was a droid…. She had taken that assassin's life and that had been out of sheer plane luck.

But the idea of being in a real fight gave her life that she hasn't felt since the day she'd gone speeding down the lane with Anakin. She felt alive in a way that she hadn't in a long time. She's always liked the dangerous side of life- mainly due to her best friend introducing her to some of them. He would never condone the murder of someone- even if they deserved it. He thought of her as an angel and she no longer had that angeleic spark to her. She had fallen from grace after she had discovered the receipt in her closet. It had taken a lot of her strength to not charge over to Rush's office and slide her dagger into his awaiting gut, over and over again. That's how she'd wanted to kill him that day. But she hadn't because she wanted to come out of this alive and have a life afterwards. She needed to figure out how she would be able to pull this off and she is pretty certain she'll need help. Ashoka would probably go along with her plan, but Anakin wouldn't, nor Ben or Sabe'. Ashoka is good with computer navigation and splicing- neither of two things she is good at. She is becoming a better fighter with her new friend's help. But training and fighting are two entirely different things. Padme' wouldn't know until she was in front of one of her victims if she could take their life or not. Corde had taken her daughter's and almost hers in the process so she shouldn't be too hard to deal with, right?

" Padme'? Where do you want the box of pans?" Sabe's voice calls from the kitchen.

Padme' peeks her head around the hallway doorway and calls out, " In the cabinet near the rehydrator."

She hears the rumblings in the kitchen and then a loud crash. She signs and heads into the kitchen to help them continue to unpack.

( Count Dooku's Office- Same Day)

He feels like a failure. He has been unable to attempt to have Anakin released from his prison cell in the last few weeks. He sighs and rubs back the short graying hair upon his head. It has come to this- meeting up with his former master and asking him for a favor owed long ago.

He's going to ask his former master for a favor that is owed from saving his life thirty plus years ago…

He eyes the holos of the ceremonies of several of the Inquisitors that Dooku has allowed to shadow him through the years- including Inquisitor Maul. His former master never seemed to be the sentimental type unless it came to people he chose to be his family- Former Master Yoda, Mace Windi- and himself. His relationship with the Count had begun at the ripe age of 8.

He had shown such promise at such a young age, the council had allowed him to be instructed as a padawan younger than most padawan's begun their formal training. Dooku had been like the father he had never met or remembered. He knew he had been taken from his family like most Jedi at a young age.

He had worshipped his master as any young boy would have. Dooku's skills rivaled his own former master, Master Yoda. Qui-gon had worshipped and followed him around through trials and errors- until he had fully given himself to the dark side. Qui-gon had used the dark side upon the creation of the Empire, but he only turned sides because of his Master. He had seen the look of pain in the older man's face as he had to choose between killing those people he had called friends or killing the man he considered to be his father. The lines between brothers and father's alike had blurred for Qui-gon until he had chosen the light again…

Shmi. The woman who had woken a part of him and allowed him to choose the path to the light once more. He hadn't looked back since and his world had come full circle when Anakin Skywalker had rode into it. He had felt his presence when he arrived in the Imperial Academy. He had been one of those on the panel committee to choose which young men and women would be chosen to become soldiers in the Imperial Navy. He had seen Anakin's information and had done his research on the boy after realizing his possible connection to Shmi. He had wondered for almost 21 years what had happened to her and her child. He had hoped the child had grown up in a self and loving environment and would never set foot on Coruscant.

But that day had arrived just over a year ago and since Qui-gon has been trying to pull the boy away from the easily susceptible darkness. Anakin's powers within the force are incredible. He has so much potential- so much wasted because of his stupidity over his emotions over a young woman. Qui-gon knows that this young woman, Padme' Clovis, is very close to his mentee. He had read up on Anakin's childhood and heard some stories from Anakin himself.

" It's a pleasure to see you Qui-gon," Dooku's smooth casual tone leaks into his ears and his eyes fall onto his former mentor's own gaze.

Qui-gon leans his hands on the back of the seat, which is placed between the black desk and the chair the count leans back into. His hands are crossed in a relaxed manner and he waits for his young mentee to respond to his question. He knows why Qui-gon is here as much as Qui-gon knows why he's here. They both know Anakin is important to the galaxy which way he pulls the galaxy will bend with his will. It isn't a reference to the Emperor's bloodline or power, they both know Anakin is more powerful than even the Emperor himself, possibly rivaling master Yoda himself.

" You know why I'm here." Is his only response.

Dooku's expression does not change or alter his mood. He asks, " And what do you think I can do about the young boy's situation? Inquisitor Maul is in charge of the investigation. I have no power over the jury which will put him on trial."

Qui-gon leans forward against the back of the seat. He flexes his fingers and states, " I am hoping you could persuade the Emperor to intervene within this matter. The boy's career is at stake."

Dooku nods solemnly responding, " The boy assaulted a Senator. He chose to deliberately put his career on permanent hold over a woman's honor."

Qui-gon nods in agreement. " He's rash and young. He felt he was protecting his friend's honor."

Dooku eyes his former mentee in observance. He agrees, " You've seem to take a liking to Lienaut Commander Skywalker."

Qui-gon murmurs, " Anakin has potential to be a fine Inquisitor and asset to the Empire. I have been mentoring him and see the impact he can make onto the Empire with the right kind of training, nothing more."

Dooku eyes the cameras they both know exist within his office. He presses the button under his desk so that he may speak freely without the cameras' recording their discussion. He had it installed many years ago for any conversations that the Emperor didn't need to know about.

Dooku taps his finger to his chin and responds, " Is it Qui-gon? Or does it have anything to do with his mother? You knew her personally when she was living here on Coruscant."

Qui-gon shields his expression as he states flatly, " He's wasting away in that detention cell and you and I both know that the Emperor won't allow this to continue if pushed."

Dooku eyes the younger man. He states truthfully, " That's if the boy is truthy the heir. I question his origins."

Qui-gon lifts his eyebrow out of curiosity. He asks, " And why would you question it? The droid confirmed his mother's pregnancy was successful at the time."

Dooku responds, " Yes, and we both know that could have been wrong. How is it that only one of the specimen's worked out of all 100?"

Qui-gon does not budge from his spot as he questions, " What are you asking me, Master?"

" I question his origins because you and I both know how they escaped. Qui-gon you must not allow the memory of the past to interfere with his future or the rebellion's future."

He sighs stating, " Why are you asking this of me now? It's been 20 years."

The Count leans forward with his brown eyes dancing with fire. " If the boy isn't the creation of a science experiment created out of the fear of a dying man, then the Emperor will kill him. Anakin is extremely powerful and has the potential to end this war. So I need to know from you the truth.

Qui-gon comes forward and rests his palms on his former mentor's desk. He murmurs, " Anakin is powerful enough to defeat the Emperor with the right training. His origins don't matter."

Dooku leans back in his chair and rubs his chin in thought. He considers thoughtfully, " So it is true then. And what of the boy? Don't you think it is wrong for him to believe a lie?"

Qui-gon sighs and rubs the graying hair on his head. He has been struggling with the very knowledge he knows is true. He hadn't felt the connection at first, but over time and getting to know the boy- he knew he had been wrong about the boy's origins. Of course this had happened after he had explained to the boy about his mother's escape and what the Emperor had done to her…

Dooku eyes the tired expression upon his former mentee's face. Qui-gion Jinn had been working with both sides since the inception of the rebellion. Dooku had allowed it to happen because he knew at some point the Empire would die. He cared little for the Jedi involvement and preferred the life of a Sith. But his apprentice was a son to him. He couldn't betray him as he knows Qui-gion could never do the same. He and his mentee had decided long ago to choose sides but never betray the other. They are family- and family sticks together which meant Anakin was his family too. He didn't know the young man at all, nor met him.

" I will speak to the Senator of this matter and have the charges dropped. Qui-gon we have to keep him as far away from Sheev as possible. If he's near Sheev will discover the truth and you and I both will lose our heads."

Qui-gon nods solemnly deep in thought. Dooku murmurs before turning off his silent speaker, " The boy should know the truth once he is free, Qui-gon. He should be able to choose to fight for the right reasons."

Qui-gon folds his arms around himself and states, " You are right. I just don't know how to gain his trust after speaking the truth to him- or Obi-wan."

Obi-wan was another young man Qui-gion cared about deeply. He has known Obi-wan since he was a boy and had established a father-son relationship with him since he was found by the Jedi.

Obi-wan had been an orphaned found on his home planet. His parents had been killed during a firefight between the Rebellion and Empire. His parents had been held down within the crossfire- and victims of a continuous bloody war. Obi-wan had been rescued by a random rebel fighter. After it had been discovered he was force sensitive, Qui-gon had been called upon to be his master, just as Master Dooku had been his.

" Thank you Master, " He whispers to Dooku.

Dooku smiles softly and had the old nickname formally used. He replies back, " May the force be with you, old friend."

To Be Continued...