A/N- Happy almost Thanksgiving! I've been a bit busy so Chapter 56 hasn't been finished yet like I wanted it to be prior to putting this one online. So bare with me as it may be December before I finish the next chapter. Please read and review as always!

Chapter 55

Location: Cafe' Coursant

Month 2 Day 27 Year 27

1030

Padme' drums her polished fingernails on the wooden table as she waits for Sabe to arrive. Sabe' had called her to say she'd be a few minutes late, something having to do with running behind on her errands for the day. Padme' hadn't been too upset by this as she was just eager to see her older sister. It seems in the past few weeks that Anakin and Sabe have been swapping roles of being roommates with the other. This has more to do with the fact that Sabe is very aware of her changing relationship with Anakin and wanted to give them privacy and not be cooped up in the apartment with a third wheel. In retro-perspective, Anakin had felt the same way in his and Ben's apartment. But in all Padme misses her older sister. The point of them moving in together had been to see each other more often and to share the rent costs as it isn't cheap to live in the Capital city of the Empire without being in favor with the Emperor or a politician or higher ranking officer. Padme' didn't think they lived in the slums of the planet or the underworld but the area they lived in still had crime and she didn't leave home without a blaster. It would be too difficult to hide her sais in her gowns she wore to work.

Padme' senses her sister's presence before she looks up from her fingernails. Her sister's aura within the force is bright but antsy. Padme' senses her nervousness and wanders what is going on. Sabe' had always been a cautious creature in general unless she drank and then she was the life of the party as she had displayed on many occasions back during their schooling days.

Her eyes lift up to meet her sister's golden hues. Her sister's complexion is a bit pale and sweaty and she looks worn out. Perhaps her new job has taken a load on her as she worked just if not more hours than Padme' every week. This is one of the many reasons why she hasn't seen her sister in the last few weeks.

Padme' reaches out and squeezes her sister's hand. Sabe squeezes back and attempts a bright smile for her younger sister. Her body is drenched in her own nerves and pouring out into the force.

" I'm so happy you could come," She says brightly. Her tone is a bit forced as if she'd rather be doing something else.

Padme' feels disappointment in her gut. Her sister is trying to spare her feelings of meeting her for brunch and Padme' tries to keep this to herself. " Of course I'd come. We both have been so busy with work and you haven't been home very much either."

Sabe' smiles truthly this time and blushes upon her comment. She has been spending a bit too much time with her significant other, but Ben worked just as much as her and they want to spend time together when they can- that and she didn't want to be in the way at their apartment when Anakin came over in the middle of the night. She thinks of him as her brother, but she really doesn't want to hear about their nightly activities.

Sabe' pulls her hand away as the droid hostess drops by and takes their drink orders. They order quickly and Sabe' waits until the droid has gone to begin her conversation topic. Her nerves were busy buzzing in her ears. She doesn't want to approach the topic on her mind as of now though.

" How are things with Anakin? I know Ben has told me he's working crazy shifts between his classes to try and graduate."

Padme' nods and sighs. " Yes, and I'm worried about him. The last few nights he's come back to the apartment looking exhausted and before I left this morning to come see you, he passed out. I'm concerned Inquisitor Maul is pushing him too hard. I know that is part of military training and tactics, but how far will someone go before they collapse?"

Sabe' nods in understanding. Knowing Anakin as long as she had, she knows he always pushes himself to his limits. He has done this since she has met him- and in the process broken and injured himself. She has seen and heard the tales over the years.

" Maybe you should talk to him if you're worried." Sabe' comments.

Padme traces her polish fingernail along the table and assures, " I have and you know how he can be. He admits his faults and then continues on with them. He is stubborn and determined to do what it takes or what he wants to accomplish no matter the cost."

Sabe' smiles and tries to stop the chuckle between her lips. A fault she knows Padme' has as well. Anakin has rubbed off on her in many ways with their personality traits since they were children. Both for the good and for the bad.

Padme' smiles at her sister's almost chuckle as she knows without asking the reason for it. She comments, " How is Ben doing?"

Sabe' suggests, " He seems to enjoy teaching the recruits, though I've heard a few stories of how they discipline them. It's cruel to be honest."

Padme' nods in agreement, but that is military life. They drill you down to nothing or to the point of breaking to see what you are made of. Even Ashoka at times commented or complained about how hard the officers pushed her and her fellow cadets.

The droid brings their drinks and Padme' sips her juice. The juice is sweet with a hint of a sour flavor. The flavor is divine, but to most life forms the color is too dark for juice and they dismiss it as being a flavorful juice. Padme' can't quite remember the name of it as it is a drink from Alderann which Bail had turned her onto one day in the office.

He had brought lunch from home as Dorme' insisted on making their lunch in celebration of Padme' divorce filings. Padme' had been impressed by the taste of the juice, though she wouldn't have tried if Bail had told her of how it tasted.

She eyes her sister who has not touched her mug of steaming cafe'. She senses their conversation is about to turn onto a subject that has her sister full of bottled up nerves. Padme' tries to keep the subject light and waits for her to acknowledge the reason for her bundle of nerves.

" How did your errand running go?"

Sabe' stays quiet and peers down at her drink. Her hands are sweaty and she seems to be paler than she was a moment ago.

Padme' frowns and asks, " Sabe, is everything alright?"

Sabe looks up from her mug and her eyes are misty with unshed tears. Her body trembles a bit as she murmurs, " No, I lied. I wasn't out running errands. I- I had a visit to the medical center."

Padme's senses are on high alert as she hears her comment. Padme takes her sister's hand out of concern and questions, " Why didn't you tell me you were ill? Is it serious?"

Sabe's eyes shed some of those tears quietly and she says, " No, it isn't a serious illness and I wouldn't have risked coming here today if it was contagious."

Padme' lifts her eyebrow in confusion and suggests, " Then why are you so upset?"

Sabe' murmurs, " Because I thought we had been so careful. I didn't plan on this happening so soon. Ben and I haven't been dating long and I'm so scared Padme' of what could happen with this on our shoulders."

Padme' blinks and processes the information flooding through her brain. It takes her a few seconds to realize the truth. She smiles excitedly and says those words out loud. " You're with child."

Sabe' lets out a sigh and says, " Yes- and I'm terrified. Is this how you felt when you found out?"

Padme' nods and assures, " Yes, but Sabe' it is nothing to be worried about. This is happy news."

Sabe' tries to smile but she suggests, " Don't you think it is a bit soon? Ben and I have been together only a mere few months. We both are so busy and think we'll have to care for a child

too."

Padme squeezes her sister's hand in reassurement. " You are not alone. You have me and Dorme' here to help you. Dorme' is a great mother and I'm sure will be happy to lend a hand and tips or whatever you need. And I'm here to spoil my niece or nephew."

This makes Sabe' chuckle and her nerves lighten a bit. She still is unsure about her feelings of the matter and suggests, " I know this, but I don't even know when or how to tell Ben. He has been busy since it is the middle of the term and I don't want to share the news with him after he's been stressed all week."

Padme' nods in understanding. " Ben will understand. He is a good man and will do right by you and the baby. So tell him soon. Don't wait until you're showing."

Sabe' smiles then easing her worries and says, " I'll tell him tomorrow then. He's busy tonight."

Padme' nods and says, " Why don't we do a bit of shopping today after brunch to celebrate?"

Sabe' agrees and then the droid hostess comes back to take their order.

Location: Admiral Jinn's Residence

Month 2 Day 27 Year 27

1130

He could sense the dark side growing within the force. The shroud of darkness has begun to take its toll within the living force. Qui-gon's eyes are closed as he focuses on the sensations racking his brain and through the force.

There is much noise through it. There is no sense of the exact place or timing of it, but he knows the familiar danger shredded through the veil of the dark side. The noise is loud as he stretches his senses to focus on the locations of the exact inquiries through the force. He had felt the warning earlier within the night in his state of waking. But the exact location isn't known to him. But he knows something is coming for him. He had sensed it upon waking early this morning and knows he cannot outrun what is about to happen this time.

His eyes open and he presses the secure recording line on the holo. He doesn't have much time. His image is displayed before him as he begins to speak.

" Anakin, if you are watching this holorecording then my cover has been compromised and my connection to the rebellion has been revealed. I have left the security code for the safe house within the files and contents of my will and will only be given to you or Ben as I have instructed if something happens to me. I have altered the code so no trace can be linked back to either of you. It is imperative that no matter the reason for my cover being compromised or the outcome that you and Ben continue our work for the Jedi and rebellion."

Qui-gon blinks and pauses the holo for a moment to gather his thoughts. He has never been one to become too personal or close to many people within his life. Being a Jedi had taught him to have compassion for others, to strive to fight for justice for others and any life force within the known galaxy. But the Jedi are as cold as the Sith. They distance themselves through their mantra and their fight against the dark side of the force. There is no room for love of a family or love of a partner. No love or bond with your own parents. Being raised in this environment had had a profound effect on his personal relationships and even in the one moment he could have left everything behind with Shmi, he had chosen his duty over her. He had sacrificed his personal relationship with Dooku to be part of the rebellion, just as he kept Anakin and Ben at arms length most times. It is in his nature- just as most Jedi.

Anakin is not like him in that aspect. Anakin has grown up in a hostile environment and then given a chance to know what a true family is like. To love- to bond with others. He is not like other Jedi and honesty is a reason that grounds him on the teetering balance of the light and dark. He can be swayed either way for a loved one. His humanity is his weakness and if Qui-gon had raised him or trained him as a Jedi he might have been able to control this part of him long ago. But a deep part of him regrets not being able to bond with him as a father should to a son. He felt that connection more with Obi-wan as he had known him most of his life.

He starts the recording again and begins his quest. " Anakin, it is important that whatever happens that you do not act rash and try to rescue me in any form. I know it is in your nature to fight for those you care about, but I'm asking you to do this one favor for me. Do not expose yourself for me. Our mission to bring down the Empire is more important than my life. I have spent over twenty years being part of the rebellion and thirty within the confines of the Empire. This is my destiny as yours is to end this fight once and for all. I know this is little comfort for you coming from me as your father, but it is all I can offer you. I am proud to know you and to have trained you in the ways of the force. Your path lies elsewhere as does Obi-wan's. Please keep your feelings in check. You are riding down a path that can lead to the dark side or the light. It is your choice always, but remember once headed down the dark path and forever will it dominate your destiny."

He clicks the button to shut off the holorecording. He uploads the file to his secure comm. Link that only Anakin and Obi-wan are aware of. He deletes the file and all traces of it and begins his next recording. This time to the young man he raised.

The beeping of the security droid downstairs is flashing. Qui-gon eyes the front of his entryway and notices Inquisitor Maul standing there with several storm troopers in tow. Inquisitor Maul waves his hand and the security droid is disabled with a simple twist of his fingers. The storm troopers are able to open the front entryway with no problems since the droid has been diasbled.

Qui-gon is aware that they will not find anything useful within his home. Everything he has ever kept or had a connection to the Rebellion and Jedi are stored within his safehouse. Without the code or knowledge of the location of this safehouse, they will hold him ransom on some bogus charge of treason. It is the way of the Inquisitors. He knows Dooku will not intervene as if he had, they wouldn't be at his doorway and invading his home.

He sits back in his soft chair in front of his holoscreen in thought. He did not get to recording what he wanted to say to Obi-wan and knows Obi-wan will understand that his time has run out. Obi-wan has a better understanding of his mentor's thought process and his teachings as a Jedi Master. Obi-wan would not act rash as Anakin would. He had raised him to think beyond his bonds with others and to be ready to sacrifice everything he knows and loves for the greater good- for all of life. He knows Obi-wan is aware that he is like a son to him as well. He could never replace the son he didn't get to raise, but he is still a family.

Qui-gon hears their footsteps crowd around him as his eyes are closed. He will not fight them as this is not his destiny. For all he does not know what evidence they will lay upon him and he's had years of experience to know and be trained to resist their mental investigations via the force. Maul may be powerful within the force, but it would take someone like Dooku to penetrate his mind for the information that they will seek out.

He senses Inquisitor Maul's sense of calm and wicked coldness enter the room. He opens his eyes and stares up into those golden hues of his. " What a pleasure it is to see you Inquisitor Maul, what brings you to my doorway?"

Maul is not amused by the banter with the old man. He stares down the calm and collected Admiral. He comments, " I'm here on behalf of the Empire on orders to arrest you for treasonous acts with connections to the Rebellion."

Qui-gon leans back in his chair and questions, " Oh? I am a traitor after loyal service for thirty years now?"

Maul frowns and suggests, " We have footage that connects you to the murder of an Imperial Cadet."

Qui-gon shrugs and comments, " Then take me in and inquire with your evidence then. I will not fight the arrest, but you will have to prove your accusations."

He holds out his hands and allows for the two stormtroopers in front of him to place the metal cuffs upon his wrists. They have a device that will dispel any force usage as well, and it is not in Qui-gon's best interest to try and use the force to escape.

Inquisitor Maul orders the storm troopers, " Escort Admiral Jinn back to the prison. I will personally interrogate the prisoner upon my arrival."

To Be Continued.