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Chapter 9
After hours of waiting up, pouring over documents, the girls nod off.
Padmé is first, slumped sideways in the chair, datapad still on in her lap. Dormé curls up around one of her pillows, a little drool dribbling out the side of her mouth. Finally, Saché goes out, propped up on one arm, her datapad opened to The Nova, the scandal sheet's vivid headline shouting about
Sleep doesn't overwhelm Sabé though. Worry keeps her eyes wide and her senses alert.
She watches the others for several hours before her stomach rumbles and she decides to sneak to the kitchen to have the droid make her something.
To her frustration, the droid hasn't been activated, and she doesn't want to risk waking the others by trying to turn it on, so she gathers a few blumfruit slices up and heads back to the room.
She stops at one of the windows to peer out at their new view of the city.
The citizens, nothing more than miniscule dots from her vantage point, buzz in and out, leaving nothing but bright trails in their wake.
It must be nice, Sabé thinks, to be one of them. To have such uncomplicated lives.
The loud hiss of the door startles her out of her reverie.
Turning, she's met by two Jedi hurrying in, looking windswept but otherwise unharmed.
"Obi-wan! You're alright!" Sabé gasps before thinking better of it.
Both men freeze, apparently startled, not having realized she was there.
Obi-wan frowns. "Sabé?"
"Who?" Anakin squints, frowning into the dark. "I can't sense you. That's...odd."
"She and Saché are quite adept at blocking their signatures," Obi-wan tells him.
Sabé isn't quite sure what he's talking about, but doesn't get the chance to question it before her mouth asks about the more pressing issue.
"Did you find anything out?"
"A bounty hunter was behind it. Two actually, one killed the other before we could get anything out of her," Anakin grumbles.
"We've briefed the Captain, and we're going to the Council in the morning with these new details," Obi-Wan adds, looking perturbed with Anakin.
Anakin is oblivious to Obi-wan's annoyance though as he focuses on Sabé. "Is Padmé okay?"
Sabé smiles.
"She's fine. She's with Dormé and my sister in an inner room. Away from windows."
"Is there a guard?"
Sabé shakes her head. "It's an inner room. We didn't feel it was necessary…"
He's stopped listening though, has taken off down the hall Sabé had pointed toward, muttering to himself.
Hearing a heavy sigh, Sabé turns to see Obi-wan running his hand over his face, looking wearily at the retreating figure of his student.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with him," he tells her before smiling.
Sabé is grateful for the poor lighting. Her face is burning and she can't make herself look him in the eye.
When the silence gets to be too much, she clasps her hands and bites her lip. She needs to say something.
"Thank you so much for all you're doing for Padmé. I don't want to think what might have happened if the two of you hadn't been here."
He shakes his head.
"There's no need for thanks. The Senator is very principled, something lacking in the rest of the Senate, and she's held in high regard at the Temple."
Another stretch of silence settles over them, and Sabé has just muttered a goodnight when Obi-wan stops her.
"Sabé," he begins, looking unsure, "may I speak with you?"
"Aren't you already?" She says, cringing at how much she sounds like Saché.
A small crease forms between his eyes. "Yes, I suppose. Please sit."
Wondering if it would be rude to ignore him and rush off to bed, Sabé reluctantly drops into the chair across from him.
She feels a bit like she's about to be on the receiving end of a lecture, just like when she'd been little and her sister had dragged her into some kind of nonsense. Which she somewhat has.
Obi-wan sighs, settles into the chair across from her and forces a smile.
"I'm sorry, Sabé," he begins, expression weary. "I never meant to confuse you or lead you to some kind of wrong assumption about my feelings for you. I do care about you. And despite what your sister may think, your safety and happiness is very important to me. I'd never intentionally work to harm you. I truly do treasure your friendship, and I hope we can still be friends."
A stone settles in the center of Sabé's stomach.
He's only telling her what she's known for years. He doesn't have the same feelings for her that she does for him.
Tears start to swell in her eyes and her chest tightens.
It's stupid, but somehow, hearing it out loud makes it hurt a little bit more.
A foolish part of her had hoped...
Swallowing back tears, Sabé nods.
This is her problem, not his. She's the one that's nursed a crush for far too long, made her own heart break. He shouldn't be punished for that.
It isn't fair to hoist her expectations onto him and then be angry when he refuses to shoulder it. He cares about her the best way he knows how, and she'll accept that.
She forces a smile, hoping the shadows hid the lie.
"I'd like that very much."
He doesn't believe her.
His expression softens. "I'm sorry Sabé, but you don't have to lie you know?"
"I'm not," she continues. "Your friendship means a great deal to me."
And that's no lie.
She often feels like she has so few friends, so few people in her life that truly love her. It's a relief to at least count him among them as someone who cares.
She'll take his friendship. It's all he has to give and she's grateful.
Clearing her throat, she smoothes down her dress and searches her mind for something less embarrassing to talk about.
Anything, really. She isn't sure if she can handle much more discussion of her ill-placed affection.
"Do you routinely jump from buildings, or was that particular stunt special for us?"
It's a clumsy question, sounds stupid to her ears, but Obi-wan appears delighted by it.
He chuckles. "I try not to make a habit of it. I really didn't think that through, actually."
"I wouldn't think you had." She laughs, feeling slightly more at ease. Now that the subject has moved on. "Very gallant though. Painfully stupid, but gallant."
"I imagine it was quite spectacular," he concedes, stoking his beard, obviously pleased with himself.
"You'll have to ask someone else. I'm afraid I missed the show."
His face falls at her confession. "You didn't see?"
Sabé shakes her head and he deflated a little more.
"Well," he bristles, "it was impressive."
"I'm sure it was," she laughs at his indignation. "And how did you get down?"
"I fell…and Anakin caught me," he explains. His smile is tempered, and despite his earlier annoyance, it's clear he's proud of Anakin. "He's quite a good pilot. Though I wouldn't tell him that, he's already overconfident enough as it is."
From what little Sabé has seen of Anakin, heard of him, she doesn't doubt that.
Yawning, Sabé gives him a sheepish grin.
The hour has finally caught up with her.
"I really do need to get to bed," she tells him, standing up and glancing over her shoulder. "If Saché wakes up and finds me gone, she'll have a fit."
Obi-wan chuckles. "Yes, I'd hate to see her upset."
"I know. She's normally so even tempered." Biting her lip, Sabé lets her eyes drop again. "You will keep us informed of what the Council has to say, won't you?"
Because they need to know this is being taken seriously.
"Of course."
"And," she takes a breath, "please keep an open mind about our theory, about Count Dooku. I know none of you think it likely, but…Saché and I have been investigating him and the Separatists for a long time and…" She looks at him imploringly. "Just don't discount our information simply because of its source."
He smiles shakes his head.
"Sabé, I believe you and Saché's information is as accurate as any, I know your top priority is the Senator's safety and that makes you extremely thorough."
"Thank you," she murmurs before forcing a smile. "Goodnight, Master Kenobi, sleep well."
"Ben."
Sabé frowns.
His eyes focus on her, too intense to meet.
"I thought we'd settled on you calling me 'Ben'," he explains, reminding her of their last conversation before her sister's drunken rant.
He's actually embarrassed, Sabé can tell, and that fact eases her a bit.
Under all the mystery and mystical powers, strict codes and detachment, he's still human. Even if just a little. Even if he doesn't feel the same way she does.
Nodding, Sabé's lips twitch up.
"Sleep well, Ben."
He bows, just slightly. "Sleep well, Sabé."
#######
"Padmé's not going to like that," Sabé mutters after Anakin returns the next day.
They'd attended meets through hologram, security too tight for Padmé to be allowed back at the Senate despite her protests.
"I was allowed there yesterday," she complained. "What's changed?"
"Um, there was another assassination attempt," Saché reminded her, receiving a glare for her trouble.
They'd remained quietly at her side for the next few hours, until their Jedi guards switch out and Anakin and Obi-wan return, bearing less than fantastic news.
"It's been nice knowing you kid," Saché adds, expression grim.
Anakin isn't amused by their assessment of his chances.
"It's for her own safety. I'll be accompanying her back to Naboo. The fewer of us traveling the less attention we'll get, and one of you girls will stay behind to act as decoy for a while."
"Not 'it'," Saché mutters, just loud enough for Sabé to hear.
Dormé grimaces, glancing around before whispering, "Who's going to tell her?"
"I am," Anakin answers, looking more confident than he should. "Is she in the kitchen?"
Sabé nods and makes a pained expression as Anakin brushes past her to go and give the Senator the ugly news.
Dormé smiles faintly. "I take it I'm going to be acting as decoy?"
"Do Hutts gamble?" Saché asks, grinning. "Sabé and I'll be going off planet with the gaming commission, trying to scrounge up more information. It was planned before the attack and I doubt the Senator is going to want us to abandon it over something as trivial as an attempted assassination."
Dormé nods. "I imagine you're right."
Something bangs in the kitchen, then Padmé's voice rises up quickly and loudly, berating the poor fool who'd given her the plans for her safety.
Clearly, she's thrilled with the arrangements.
Anakin's voice soon joins in the jumble, rendering it incomprehensible.
The girls exchange wary glances.
"Should one of us go in there and try to mediate?" Dormé asks when they hear glass breaking.
"I'm not going in there," Sabé quickly tells her, glancing to Saché. "Do you remember what happened the last time we tried to intervene when someone gave her bad news?"
Saché hugs herself, eyes wide and haunted. "I'll never eat fish again, that's for damn sure."
Dormé's eyebrows rise. "Wha-"
Before she can ask about what had simply been dubbed the 'incident' by those who'd witnessed it, Padmé comes marching out of the kitchen. Her narrowed eyes and gritting teeth directed their way for a moment before storming off, letting them know she's convinced they're in on the plot to send her back to Naboo.
Anakin emerges shortly after, looking just as irritated.
"How'd it go?" Saché asks, somehow managing to look innocently curious.
Anakin responds with a grunt
When he starts in the direction Padmé had vanished in, Sabé stops him with a gentle hand on his arm.
"Let her be for a bit, Anakin. She needs to calm down before you'll have any hope of making her see reason."
"If you can," Saché adds in an undertone.
He runs a hand over his head, grinding his teeth before making a frustrated noise and glaring at the girls.
"It's the most reasonable way to keep her safe. Surely she can see that?"
Sabé and Saché exchange a knowing look.
Years of experience have taught them Padmé is more concerned with maintaining her high ideals and helping the people of the Republic than she is with her own safety.
"Padmé is too important to the opposition to the Military Creation Act for her to let herself stay here and make an easy target. Eventually she'll see that," Dormé finally says, genuine in her hope.
"Right," Saché mutters, rolling her eyes.
"We'll all talk to her as well, Anakin. Once she's less likely to kill us" Sabé adds, certain that time won't be anytime soon.
Anakin's expression stays stormy as he mumbles something about 'being unreasonable' before skulking off.
Once they're certain they're alone, Sabé sinks into one of the chairs and presses her fingers to her eyes.
"I can't believe they went to the Chancellor before they even spoke to Padmé. Getting an executive order. That's so-so…" Sabé searches for a word to fully convey the cold tactics that had been employed.
"Underhanded? Calculating? Manipulative?" Saché offers, huffing. "Right up their alley I'd say. They knew she'd oppose being shipped off."
"It is for the best though, right? You two even agree," Dormé asks, eyes wide with worry.
Sabé nods, hating herself a little. It feels like a betrayal.
"Y-yes, but, still…"
"It's not what you say, it's how you say it," Saché explains. "And they went aboutthis completely wrong."
"Went about what wrong?" A pleasant voice asks, interrupting their conversation.
Obi-wan smiles pleasantly from the entry, a moody Anakin at his side.
"The retconning and making Vanco the father of Cepha," she shakes her head. "It seems a bit of a cop out and cheapens the non-biological connection Vanc and Cepha have."
Neither man looks quite sure what she's talking about.
Sabé shoots Dormé a look, telling her to stay quiet, before clearing things up for the men. "It's her stupid holo-drama."
Anakin still looks confused, but nods just the same.
"Called for backup?" Saché changes the subject, gazing coolly at Obi-wan.
Obi-wan's smile doesn't falter.
"I was coming to bring the transport information to Anakin and see how things went," he answers evenly. "I take it not well."
Saché rolls her eyes. "How could you tell? The force?"
Sabé shoots him an apologetic smile. "She's rather unhappy, as you can imagine, but she'll comply…eventually."
"Hasn't got much of a choice," Saché grumbles. "Does she now?"
"The council feels this will be the best way to protect the Senator. You must trust our judgment on this," Obi-wan tells her, eyeing her warily.
Sabé can almost hear Saché's teeth grinding down. He's said exactly the wrong thing.
"Must we?" Saché's mouth twists up in a cold smile. "Excuse me, I apparently must go and convince Padmé she must go back to Naboo. The council's judgment is never wrong."
She brushes past the men, shooting a dark look at Obi-wan as she goes, a confused Dormé hurrying after her.
Sabé forces a smile, pushing down her irritation at being herded.
"Am I allowed to ask what other plans the Council has for Padmé? Or are we expected to simply follow on faith alone?"
Her voice is even, no trace of the frustration she feels seeping out.
"I'll be investigating the bounty hunter, trying to determine who he is working for, and as soon as I am able to come to a conclusion I'll report back to the Council," Obi-wan answers, gesturing toward her, "and to the Senator of course."
Sabé nods. "I should hope so. Padmé won't take being shut out well. You'll be disappointed if you expect passive compliance."
They'll be lucky if the get any compliance.
He grimaces. "I'll keep that in mind." He gives her a weary smile. "We shall need to ask a small favor of you and your sister. In order to distract from the Senator leaving, we'll need Saché and yourself to pose as she and a handmaiden at the Senate. Nothing too involved. Just go to her office and wait for a while."
"Lucky my sister and I are around isn't it?" Sabé's eyebrows rise. "You certainly think of everything, don't you?"
It comes out more accusatory than complimentary, but Sabé doesn't care. It's feeling increasingly like the Jed council only wants their help when it's convenient to them.
He sighs. "Sabé, we aren't trying to bully you."
She shoots him a dubious look. "Positive about that?"
It's a little sharp sounding, but she shrugs off the guilt at that. He wants her friendship, and years with Padmé has taught her that friendship means disagreements. Sometimes polite, sometimes cutting. He's going to get no different treatment.
Anakin eyes narrow, sharp on her. "We're trying to help. Why are you being so difficult?"
Sabé startles at his tone, the harshness of his body language. He's furious and afraid, and ready to take his anger out on anyone available.
Suddenly, Sabé is very wary of Padmé going with Anakin.
He's volatile. There's so much anger in him, at nothing and everything, that Sabé can feel it coming off him in waves, like broiler heat.
Gripping the back of the chair nearest her, Sabé steadies her breathing, tugs at her neckline, suddenly overly warm.
She's seconds from asking them if they're hot too, when she's doused in cold. Chillier than a spring day on Hoth.
"Anakin," Obi-wan says his name in a warning way before turning his attention to Sabé.
"Sabé, the Senator is held in high regard at the Temple. Many of her beliefs are in line with ours and we just want to ensure her safety."
Sabé nods.
Despite her annoyance with the Council and their underhanded tactics, she knows it's the safest thing for Padmé.
"I know. The others know too. If you could just," she smiles weakly, shrugs, "run things by us before you make decisions? We aren't Eopie. We won't always just fall in line."
Obi-wan nods, flashes an understanding smile.
"We would never expect you too."
Sabé almost points out that they have to this point, but let's the matter die. For now, anyways.
"I'll speak with the others about the plan," Sabé tells them as she starts to leave. She's got a sister and a senator to talk down and convince to go along with a plan she hasn't got much faith in.
Not that she's got a choice.