Yoda had felt a shift in the force following the battle on Geonosis, two powerful disturbances that rivaled one another. Several days of meditation did not guide him to any answers; the dark side of the force clouded much. He had been searching the darkness for days, hunting through it hoping to find the cause of such shifts. On his fourth day, he had finally sensed a movement, a brief lift in the clouds. He had grasped forward, attempting to reach it again before it retreated and was deeper in darkness once more. If he had not been a trained Jedi Mater akin to the ways of the force, Yoda might have felt frustrated. But he trusted in the will of the force, knowing in due time an answer would come; and come one did, in the form of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan Kenobi had come to relay that Anakin was awake from surgery and Captain Naberrie had awoken, on the evening of the day Yoda had felt the shift again. His path was guided to her hospital room, a tremor in the force leading the way. He could sense the darkness crowding her mind, her growing distress and alarm screaming out to him in the force. She had appeared to be sleeping when he entered, but the echoing vibrations of the force surrounding her said otherwise. The darkness he found was profound, attempting to smother and stifle the light beneath. The light was fading in and out, faint as her heartbeat had been.
Now she sat in front of him, several days later, in the meditative pose he had taught her, breathing in and out more precise than most padawans had been able to do in such time. He sighed as he left the presence of her mind. The darkness had ebbed away, little by little, but as for why it was there, the answer was still unknown.
"Again, tell me, young one." He inquired of her, retrieving her from her current meditations.
Sabé sighed a deep sigh before opening her eyes. She had grown accustom to the Jedi's mediations at this point, his searching in her mind, but they had been over this several times in the past few days and Sabé was growing weary.
"It has always just been voices. Some days they are so quiet, but in the night they grow restless. I can hardly sleep, no matter how hard I listen, and their words feel foreign. I do not know what they say."
"The first time, they have changed, it is."
"Yes, Master Yoda."
"Hmmm." She watched him then, as he murmured to himself. His eyes closing. They had been meeting here, in the room of a thousand fountains for the past few days. The first time he brought her here, she was in aw of it and was deeply humbled he would even allow her presence in such a sacred place of the temple. It had reminded her of the waterfalls on Naboo and in that he had said it should serve their purpose. He had been most mysterious on meeting her here, visiting her the next day in the hospital as he had promised. He had only mentioned the sense of darkness stifling her mind and had begun to instruct her in clearing her own, controlling her own. This proved very difficult to her. It was exhausting. Every day she left feeling more drained than the one before, but he had been right. Slowly she could feel a shrouded presence ebbing away and she was beginning to sift more easily through what invaded her mind.
"Do you know what he meant, Master Yoda?" Her thoughts flickering to the words of Count Dooku.
"Know this, I do not. Find the answers that you seek, only you can." He paused, opening his eyes once more. She could feel him flare against her mind once more and then nodding to himself as if satisfied. "Return to Naboo, you should. Senator Amidala, need you, she will. Master Kenobi, send with you, we will."
"While I am happy to return to Naboo, Master Yoda, I am not sure it is necessary to send Master Kenobi with me." She responded, confused to his suggestion. She would be more than capable of returning herself home.
"Further guide you he will, as I have been." He confirmed. "Began, the clone wars have. Indispensable, the Jedi will soon be. Opportunity this will be. learn you must, before we are no longer available to teach you. Meet you in the morning, he will" To this she acquiesced, standing to take her leave. She felt light headed as she stood up and recognized she had overspent her self. It amazed her how much energy it took. No matter how exhausted she felt, she was grateful. The time spent helped ease the restlessness she had felt growing over the years and she was finding sleep a little easier than she use to, forgetting how glorious a full night could feel. She continued to revel in it, as she fell asleep that evening, falling into her meditative state focusing on the rushing waters of Naboo.
Master Yoda was true to his word. He, Master Windu and Obi-Wan were waiting by the Naboo vessel in the morning. Master Yoda was speaking with the two Master Jedi, a face of understanding passing over Obi-Wan as he looked up to greet her.
"Captain." He greeted in a low bow to her. She smiled, despite herself.
"Master Kenobi." She returned in a slight bow and nod of her head. He then turned back to the Jedi Masters, exchanging farewells before they boarded the ship.
A ghost of "May the force be with you" left the lips of the two Jedi Masters as they watched them take off. Mace Windu turned to Master Yoda as the ship flew beyond their vision.
"You sense something, don't you?" He asked of his old friend, knowing the contemplative face he now held.
"Clouded, the future has become. Uncertain of many things, I am." Was his low reply. Master Yoda had always been strong in sensing the future and the will of the force. Master Windu grew concerned as he contemplated the words of his friend. If he was uncertain, then nothing was certain anymore.
Sabé and Obi-Wan had sat the first few moments of their trip in silence, preparing for their eight hour trip to Naboo. She desperately wanted to ask how his conversation with Padmé went, but felt she should not. It would only cause an awkward situation and further her acknowledgement to the situation. She would have to be patient and wait until she saw Padmé.
"Well, lets begin shall we?" Obi-Wan broke the silence, his tone all business, as he removed his brown cloak. He set the ship to autopilot and turned to the main hull, motioning for her to follow him. She trailed behind him, removing her own cloak. As she watched him fall into a meditative pose, she followed suit across from him, grateful she had chosen her jumpsuit to travel in. She closed her eyes as he did, engaging in the meditative state Master Yoda had taught her. She could feel Obi-Wan's presence as he entered her mind, the same calming presence she had felt all those years ago. She fell into a blank state, allowing him his attempt to sift through it, same as Yoda had done before. She felt like it had been hours, when Obi-Wan finally retreated. It was an odder sensation. She had felt all of his emotions then, open and clear. She opened her eyes to see him looking at her in contemplation, his hand stroking his chin as he usually did. His deep blue eyes were focused in rapt attention, a concern shadowing his face.
"I can feel your frustration." She commented.
"Yes. You seemed to have slipped past my own mental shield. Interesting." He regarded her further, trailing his eyes over her face before standing up to face out the window. "Were you tested as a child? For midichloridians?" Sabé shook her head no in response, still looking to his back, searching for whatever train of thought he might be following. He gestured her over to his position, revealing a small vile in his hand. "May I?" She consented, grimacing as the small needle came closer to her fingers. It was only a moment and he was uploading the sample to the computer databanks, a loading bar coming across the screen. "This may take a while." He commented as he walked to the nearby table and chairs, very similar to the ones where they once played Sabaac on Tatooine. She laughed lightly as she sat down and he produced a deck of the game, shuffling it with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Shall we? I do believe you owe me a rematch."
"Be careful what you wish for, Master Jedi." She responded, cracking her knuckles in a dramatic fashion before shifting more comfortably in her seat. They played several rounds and he was doomed from the start. She had gained the upper hand in every match, manipulating each of his moves against him. A smirk played on his lips as he observed her, her eyebrows furrowed in determination as she chewed on her bottom lip in thought. She continued to surprise him with her growth, images of watching her battle on Geonosis flooding his mind. He had been surprised to find out she had stood against Dooku and had done so valiantly for them, a sense of pride sweeping through him. He had not been expecting her presence to suddenly find its way into his mind either, but he had recognized her instantly. That same aurora followed her even now, the one he had identified long ago. He had felt something off then, with the young decoy struggling with insomnia. He had brushed it off, thinking she was a queen in distress over her people. But after his visit in the hospital, the tracings of fatigue and insomnia so present, he should have trusted his instincts then. The beeping of the completion of the test brought him from his thoughts and paused Sabé in their game. As he stood from his chair to face the screen, his confusion at her situation deepened. Master Yoda had only enlightened him to some aspects of it, but nothing was making sense, as it should. Everything about it felt like a chaotic pathway, no obvious answers springing forth.
"What does it mean?" She asked him, leaving her seat and looking closely over his shoulder.
"It is high enough you might have been brought to the temple, but unlikely that you would have been selected as a padawan to become a knight. These levels are often seen in those that are sent to the Agricore or Medcore. It does little to explain the influence of the force around you or your effect on it." He explained.
"I have an effect on the force?" She asked curiosity piqued as she continued to look at the screen over his shoulder. He debated how to answer her, not sure he wanted to divulge exactly how he felt her signature in the force.
"Yes. I had felt it when we first met, but in my padawan ignorance had thought it was merely your overabundant feelings to the situation projecting around you. Apparently I was wrong." He answered as he pressed a few buttons, forwarding the results to Master Yoda.
"What is it like?" She asked, her voice innocent, as he turned to face her. He had nearly knocked into her, not realizing how much she had been leaning over his shoulder, her curiosity over taking her. She had backed up slightly, but not enough for Obi-Wan's comfort. She was still too close. He was certain now he could not relay the way her presence felt in the force, not now as it filled his senses. It was there, brave and bold as always, but now he could sift through the layers it presented. Her overwhelming compassion and undeniable loyalty seeping through, a warmth like the suns of Tatooine, a softness like the flowers of Naboo, and a gentle nature of summer breeze. Then he froze as he felt it reach to him, unknowingly to her, until she also froze, her gaze to his as he slammed down his mental shields. The air felt electrified as he felt her swift retreat from his mind. He watched as the flicker of emotions travelled through her chocolate eyes and in the air around them: surprise, delight, confusion, guilt and another he couldn't name. He felt them so vividly, not something she had ever allowed before. He felt enamored in them, in her presence, it felt intoxicating. Everything about her drew him in, her presence, those eyes, and the slight floral scent that followed her every move. Obi-Wan would never be able to explain how this woman captivated him, constantly taking him by surprise.
Sabé stood frozen in his gaze as she ruminated on the thoughts she had just felt. She had not even realized she had been in his mind; she had just followed the unspoken feelings she felt in the air. It was not until the sudden rush of cold hit her and an abrupt force pushed against her mind that she had realized what she had done. It had all taken her by surprise. She felt a small ache in her chest at the recognition of his thoughts of her, that he held her presence so highly and so… beautifully. It had taken her breath away, further stolen by the sudden realization as guilt hit her harder. She couldn't begin to explain how she had done it; she had just felt a connection in her mind and followed it there. If she was being honest, she had felt it before, even as early as when they first met. It had continued to strengthen the more she was in his presence, but until now had not been able to identify the strange pull towards him. The strange pull that she felt now that made her keenly aware of how close he was. It would only take one small move forward to touch him, she realized as the air filled around her with heavy electricity. She could feel it drawing them both in, and despite the walls he had forced down, she could sense the same trepidation in him as she was feeling right now. It filled her senses, laced with his own curiosity and yearnings, mingling with hers. What it might be like to have her hand in his hair, his lips on hers, his voice to only say her name ever again. Sabé had felt herself slowly lean towards him, eyes still connected with his as if seeking an admonishment towards her movements. Just as swiftly as she realized her own actions, did the cold air of reality slam down into her senses. Though he had not moved to deny her, she knew she must. She valued him too deeply to ever put him in such a position, one that might only end in chaos and destruction. For while she believed love to be of the most beautiful kind, she knew the Jedi Order would not see it the same. She tried to keep her composure from crumbling and her thoughts silent as she thought of the future for Padmé and Anakin. Secrets would surely lead to distrust and where distrust was allowed to build, betrayal would follow and then there could be no love for them. She blinked once or twice as if bringing herself back to the moment, the moment where she was mere seconds away from ruining a growing friendship and harming someone she held dear. She moved back slowly, lowering her eyes and breaking him from the pull. She left him there in silence, allowing himself to gather his own thoughts as she went to leave the hull.
"You remind me of the ocean after a storm." She whispered. "I have never felt a more calm and fortifying presence." She finished as she left him there, doing her best to ignore the scream of the connection she had found and to quiet her own mind, finding sanctuary in the pilot seat as she guided the ship into the final voyage of their trip.
Obi-Wan tried not to think, trying to bask in the emptiness of the force as he sought meditation to clear his mind after her departure. Despite his best efforts, her words echoed in his mind, a slight blush creeping along his face. He was glad she had moved away from him, having completely lost himself to her presence in the force. He could feel her even now, notwithstanding her best efforts at trying to clear her mind. He felt her guilt and her internal conflict she seemed to be having within. She had seemed to reach a solution, her feelings slowly ebbing away and he sunk deeper down in meditation, refusing to head to the cockpit until his mind was clear. When he finally did enter, they were leaving hyperspace, and the planet of Naboo lay before them. She turned to inform him, their gazes meeting. Neither said a word, but the silent agreement buzzed in the air. Things were as they should be. They remained silent as they landed, Sabé smiling as she noticed Padmé on the landing platform below. No sooner had the ramp lowered that Sabé was leaving the ship swiftly, searching for her friend. She bowed to her respectfully, finding herself wrapped in a tight hug within moments.
"It is so good to see you. You look much better." Padmé smiled to her.
"I feel much better, milady." She smiled back. She noticed Anakin heading to greet his master and gave Padmé a quick wink. She was ready for them to be alone and to gush in the details of all she had missed. Both Jedi approached them as Padmé greeted Obi-Wan. With their pleasantries finished, Obi-Wan turned to Sabé.
"I have sent the information along to Master Yoda. He will be in contact." He told her before turning to Anakin. "Should I be expecting your return soon, my young Padawan?" He asked.
"I will be returning within two days Master, with request from the council." Anakin responded, his tone heavier than normal.
"Excellent. Senator, Captain, Anakin. May the force be with you." He said with a nod before turning to board another transport vessel back to Coruscant. Sabé had expected him to stay at least for the evening, but found herself grateful that he would no longer sense her thoughts. She needed an evening alone. She turned swiftly back to Padmé who was smiling broadly once again.
"Come, we have much to discuss." She spoke to Sabé as she pulled her arm into her own and led her swiftly back to her lake home.
"It sounds romantic." Sabé appraised as Padmé regaled their small ceremony to her. "If I were to ever wed, I would have wanted it here." Sabé finished.
"You speak as though it will never be so. You are not old yet Sabé." Padmé jested at her. Sabé smiled at her friend, glad to see her basking in such pure joy, despite the trials undoubtedly heading her way.
"I have already told you. Someone will have to watch after you." She smiled, narrowly dodging a pillow that Padmé chucked her way. Sabé had planned on asking Padmé after Obi-Wan's inquiries and perhaps divulging their moment aboard the ship, but had decided against it. Now was not the time, let her friend bask her happiness as long as she could without adding her own rain clouds to the mix. And so she had indulged in the tales of Anakin and Padmé's wedding and short honeymoon thereafter in their favorite place on Naboo, right here.
"It is late." Padmé announced. "And I do believe you are back on duty upon Anakin's return to Coruscant in a few days. Rest up Captain." Sabé smiled at her friends teasing tone.
"Of course Senator. Perhaps it is you who should remember to sleep tonight." She laughed out as a blush and sly grin crept over Padmé's face. She giggled mischievously back at her as she said her goodnights and closed the door.
Sabé walked over to her open balcony that overlooked one of the most beautiful lakes of Naboo. She had intended on meditating here, hoping to get rest as Padmé had suggested. But something kept nagging in her mind, and so she walked back into her room. Gathering her cloak around her nightgown and slipping into her boots, she made her way down to the gardens beside the lake. It was a clear night, and Sabé lay down to take in the beauty of the stars and moons. She closed her eyes then, meditating and sifting through the many voices. After such time spent, the screams had ceased, reverting back to the voices she had always heard. Master Yoda said she would have to seek the answer herself. Having no idea what she was looking for, she felt the first step might be to identify the voices, any she might recognize, having never solely focused on them before, always running from them. She sighed, frustrated, after sifting through what felt like millions to no avail. One, however, had struck her as odd, terrifying. It was a voice made of gravel and steel, one she had never heard before. What had caught her attention was its definitive malice and criminal intent as it spoke a name so dear to her.
"General Kenobi."
She searched her memory for the voice, anything that might identify it. But nothing came and it was eventually silenced by a feeling she had come accustomed to now. The calm ocean after the storm and she fell asleep there by the lake, his voice the last one to play in her mind.
"Sabé."
Sabé felt extremely stiff as she felt the glow and warmth of the sun against her closed eyes. It was as Sabé lay, cursing her bed, reaching for a sheet, her hand meeting dirt that she remembered where she was and where exactly she had fallen asleep. Her voice felt thick with fog until an otherworldly voice whispered in her ear, urgent and intense: danger. Sabé's eyes jolted open, her hands flying to tighten her robe around her, just as she felt his presence behind her.
"So this how the Senator treats her friends?" Anakin spoke, humor evident in his tone and across his face as he looked down on her.
"Well I can only imagine how she must treat her husband then." Sabé buffed, sitting up to look at him, a smirk on her face. Anakin went slightly stiff at that, before Sabé laughed and the smile came back to his face. She thought he looked better that way, smiling and joking, not a brooding teenager in sight. He was still so young, with so much to learn. It was what worried her most, other than the whole forbidden love thing. Her observations turned to his padawan braid, reminding her so long ago of the padawan that jumped to their rescue back on Naboo. How different these two men were. While, Sabé had not come to know Anakin very well, his presence had just always been different than Obi-Wans. And today, she could feel that difference vividly. While Obi-Wan was the calming storm, strong, safe, Anakin's presence was wild, almost volatile, and full of an unknown depth, a journey where one might not escape. Yet, beneath it all she felt another layer, a young man who was vulnerable, insecure, passionate and kind. It was a vast contrast to be inside one person. His voice drew her from her thoughts as he eyed her warily.
"I was actually hoping to speak to you about that." He paused, gaging Sabé's reaction, but she remained smiling at him, waiting for him to proceed. "I know you do not approve, but I want you to know, you have my word. I will not let any harm befall her and I love her dearly." Sabé felt the sincerity in his voice, the intensity in which he believed his words.
"Anakin. It is not that I do not approve of you. I just worry. A relationship built on lies and deceit is destined for destruction, it cannot survive." He moved to speak but Sabé continued, not allowing him to interrupt "Padmé means everything to me. She is my only family. She is my home. I have dedicated my life to serving her, and I do not intend on changing that any time soon. I think you're a good person Anakin. I am so happy to see how her love for you shines through her. She deserves the world." Here she paused, looking over to him as he looked out to the lake in thoughtful contemplation. "In your determination to take what you should not have, please, do not grip so tightly that you destroy it." She finished in a whisper, still looking at him. His gaze was intense as he looked back to her, his voice deep with emotion.
"I promise."
