Amidala sat primly arms folded over chest as she tapped her foot. She was infuriated! The nerve of that…that Jedi! She hated men like him…with their superior attitudes and galling patronizing air…and she was stuck with him for the next two weeks! When moments ago she was ready to weep she now wanted to scream.
"Dempsey I am ready to go," she glared at her guard to hurry up in giving the Jedi padawan the hotel information so that they could convene later. She had already given all information concerning her security issues in her file when she requested help.
"Yes milady."
Gall, the next two weeks were going to try her very last nerve. Threat of war, Jedi scum slurper…and marriage, she now didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
-----------------------------
"What is going on Ariana?" Obi-Wan burst through the double door entry of the sparring solarium.
"And hello to you too Kenobi," a dark haired woman put down a volume of Temple History and stood to meet him.
"I'm not in the mood for chit-chat," he further growled throwing himself into a chair opposite hers at the rod-iron table.
"I can see that. By the looks of things the only thing you are up for is a run with the dueling simulator," she cocked an eyebrow reclaiming her seat, amused at her friend's condition.
"Don't be a smart a—"
"Watch yourself or I might fill in for the sim and believe me I'll do a hell of better job beating your sorry arse."
Obi-Wan couldn't fight the smile that the remark induced. No one was quite sure where Ariana had picked up her accent since she grew up in the Temple like everyone else but all agreed they loved it anyway.
Ariana Kincade was only a couple inches shorter then Obi-Wan but fought with control and agility most men couldn't even begin to match. Talent she did not lack. She was also beautiful, long shinny auburn hair she kept pulled back from her face and in a large chignon. Her eyes were deep blue, wide and playful. With a body slender, lithe undeniably woman with a face of fallen angel and lips as full and red as sun ripened berries she had caused many a Jedi to question their resolution and many more mere mortal men to want to fall at her feet and beg. She was mostly oblivious to it all—mostly.
"Point taken; but what is going on with this Naboo thing? I got a summons by the council to go and pick up Queen Amidala at the Cap Building. I do then am asked to stay as Amidala makes a plea for security but that's not the shocker—I'm given that assignment and assigned another secret covert OP I know nothing about—heading a team consisting of you and Anakin. I have no clue what is going on or what I am doing save for going to the damn planet of Naboo and playing nursemaid to royalty who 'fears for her safety', when really the only treasonous threat they have against them is from some guy who voted for them and now wants to know why his taxes have tripled and wages have plummeted and his kid can't go to Further Education because he can't pay the tuition!"
Ariana laughed softly. Their talks were so informal and lacking all the pretenses normally allotted to such exchanges. They were long time friends, grew up together, took all their classes together, tested together and became teachers together. Their dynamic was unique and very raw—they knew each other better than anyone else. They held nothing back.
"I get the frustration. They took Jan-Le aside told her she was going to be working with Tripp for the next three weeks before they even mentioned any assignment to me. I learned they shipped her to the academy on Dantoonie this morning when I showed up at the library to find Master Windu instead of my padawan. I've only known for a few hours." She shrugged her shoulders filling her cup and a second cup for Obi-Wan with a fragrant tea.
"Well I haven't had the time to download the files so I'd appreciate a run down," he sipped slowly feeling his muscles ease, though his headache raged on.
"Okay, Security Subject: Amidala, Padme Queen of Naboo. Security Threat: a political group known as Project Action, Members: Unknown.
Task Force: Team leader, Jedi Knight Kenobi, Obi-Wan, second Jedi Knight Kincade, Ariana, with Padawan Learner class two, Skywalker, Anakin.
We know that the people making up this group are varied. We know that even on the highest levels there are threats.
Primary objective: keep the SS safe,
Secondary objective: discover who is heading the group Project Action and determine if this group is connected to the Galactic Republic uprising known as the 'Separatists'. Evidence has been found leading us to believe that Naboo unwittingly is housing at least a fraction of this group and that this group is looking to make Naboo a base…" Ariana paused her reading from her hand held personal computer looking to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan swallowed in disgust all the information slowly penetrated. "Wow," he rubbed his jaw.
"Yeah, I know."
"I mean I've heard rumors that there was a group going against the Republic but I thought it was rumors started by space travelers too long away from civilized space! …And they think this group might be connected to the Project Action on Naboo?"
"Evidently, I know it's all a bit farfetched but I don't think the council would send us if they didn't feel the idea was legitimate."
"Agreed. How much are we telling the SS?"
"Little to none. She's to know nothing of the possibility of the Separatists—that was made clear. Truthfully, I wonder if maybe we shouldn't take a hard look at Amidala, I mean come on, it would only make sense. The senate refused help back during the TF fiasco; maybe she still carries a grievance."
Obi-Wan felt a strong repulsion to that idea immediately, he didn't feel for a second she was involved. It was a gut feeling that echoed to his core. Why he felt so strongly about it and why he found himself almost angry with Ariana for suggesting it, he couldn't say.
"She's got no reason to go against the senate now. She's got Palpatine elected; he is from Naboo, one of her people."
Ariana caught the wavering of emotion ripple in her friend and found it curious. Amidala was certainly a conductor for Obi-Wan's emotions and that was a dangerous thing.
"Okay, I'll trust you since you've known her for a considerable amount of time but Obi-Wan I have to keep all possibilities open, I have to be objective—completely."
"I know, I'm not asking you to be anything but that," he smiled a bit lopsided, "My padawan is surely waiting for me in the south hall as I instructed him to…but I am always telling him he must work on his patients, so you want to go around?"
She raised her eyebrows giving a crooked smile of her own, "Foils or 'sabers?"
He smirked, "Ladies choice."
"Foils then, I'd hate to seriously injure you…"
"Aw honey you'll be lucky to get even close…"
"Bite me Kenobi."
"Gladly…where?"
"In the arse."
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Amidala's temper hadn't settled even at the dinner hour. She huffed and muttered under her breath as she dressed in a formal dress the color of a summer blue sky. She made threatening remarks toward 'that Jedi' as she was no longer saying his name while applying her light make-up. The creative names she thought of while doing her hair she wouldn't dare repeat.
Dempsey gave her a worried bemused look as she stomped into the hotel room receiving area. "Senator Hayden is expected in ten minutes and Jedi's Kenobi, Kincade, and Skywalker are expected in twenty minutes, for what time shall I alert the hotel restaurant to send up dinner milady?"
"Dempsey I don't know!" she was exasperated, "I guess eight, that will give us time to discuss beforehand…"
"Very good your Highness."
She paced the room sitting down for a moment leafing through a hardcopy of the weekly Planet Examiner before returning to pace again.
The visitor alert bell finally rang. Amidala sat demurely trying to look absorbed but appropriately bored as Dempsey came from the dining room to answer the door.
Amidala looked up just as the tall devilishly handsome man came in.
"Zex!" she made good on affable.
"Darling Dala!" he clasped her offered hands while brushing light kisses on her cheeks and a chaste kiss on her lips.
"It's been such a long while how are you?" she fluttered her eyes at him.
"I am better than five minutes ago, now that I am with you, but you, how are you dearest?"
She laughed. She genuinely enjoyed him, always had. No one could deny he was gorgeous and had a delightfully male air. Tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist, muscled and tan. His face was that of a chiseled mythical rogue god. Longer then fashionable jet black hair that had slight curl where it touched his collar was swept back letting his penetrating green eyes dance. But it was perhaps, his wicked grin that most women fell for; it made them forget to breathe and reduced them to a glop of rubbery glue. She had never made it that far, being oddly insusceptible to most his charm. Her stomach did get butterflies and her cheeks did flush at times—she was female after all.
"I'm well Zex."
Zex nodded pleased with this. They shared idle chit chat purposely avoiding any topics concerning the impending conflict at home. It all in all was frivolous and surface deep.
Before long, the door dinged again.
"I believe our Jedi friends have arrived darling, shall we greet them?" Zex clasped her hand in his as they rose to meet them just as Dempsey was showing them in.
Amidala put on a serene smile as she stood at her husband to be's side but found herself pressing in hard against him with shock as she came face to face with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen…possibly the most beautiful woman the galaxy had ever seen.
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Obi-Wan was in a foul mood as he waited for the door to be answered. The whole thing just made him anal.
"Kenobi, you're sending some awful hostile vibes, think you should take it down a notch?" Ariana remarked in a hushed tone while glancing meaningfully at Anakin.
"He knows this assignment is rubbing me the wrong way. Why should I hide it?" he shot back.
"Oh never mind then, forgive me for speaking! I see acting like a bantha's arse is not only something you specialize in but enjoy too!"
He made a face at her seconds before the door was opened. They were shown in and Obi-Wan refrained from comments like 'maybe if the Naboo government spent less money putting up the Queen in five star luxury hotels there might not be a lynch mob after her'. However, he couldn't help the curse that slipped under his breath when he came into view of the man that he could only presume to be Senator Zex Hayden.
He did not make it a habit of noticing men nor did he have clue what denoted a 'handsome' man but looking at Hayden he was pretty sure he had to be it. Really, it made Obi-Wan rather disgusted.
Likewise, Amidala was holding back awe at the woman standing so regally at Obi-Wan's side. That woman should be on billboards selling frivolous products—not toting a lightsaber and a vow of celibacy, Amidala thought wickedly.
The three Jedi and the two dignitaries stood staring, a limbo of silence settling none too comfortably. Each was sizing up the other, lines being drawn and presumptions of character setting in stone.
Finally drawing a sharp breath Amidala was first to speak, "I am pleased you all could make it, you may or may not have met my fiancé but I would like to introduce you to Senator Zex Hayden."
Obi-Wan cocked an eyebrow at the hand Zex held out, it was calloused, which Obi-Wan noted and couldn't help but give the man a little—very little—respect for, at least the man had done some sort of physical labor at some point, "Senator. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi and I will be heading the team in charge of the Queen's security. With me are my team, Jedi Knight Ariana Kincade and Jedi padawan Anakin Skywalker."
Hands were shaken and courtesies exchanged but no one was fooled by the posturing.
Sitting down they again looked each other over letting the silence drag. It would probably have continued well into the night if Ariana hadn't taken charge.
"Now that we've met why don't you give Queen Amidala and Senator Hayden an overview of what we've put together," she directed to Obi-Wan, though she wasn't sure it was a wise move since he had hostility jetting from him like big red sirens.
Nodding curtly at her he began, "Having gone over your daily routine we have amended it to limit trips to include only those that fall in, what he have determined, 'safety zones'. These zones are places that we feel we can be easily and well secured with limited access points and no blind spots. We have hard copies as well as digital documents outlining these changes as well as a tentative map showing you our predication of where these 'safe zones' will be, we won't be able to say for sure till we are able to actually go through the area, though the holographic maps were a great aide.
"Because we don't know who the members of the group attempting to assassinate you are we are going to meet with all your staff and palace security and hopefully try and weed out any potentially volatile people. But as a precaution, we will be asking you not to travel without Anakin, Ariana or myself with you.
"We will be continuing on this course of action till security is handed over to the Senator's Republic Government Service in fourteen days which you will be entitled to as his spouse or the situation somehow changes. If you have any questions about what I have explained or you have any comments please feel free to express them now."
Ariana almost laughed, the mechanic nearly robotic monotone Obi-Wan had recited his nearly scripted description was hysterical. He stared at his audience calmly as if he was almost bored with the whole thing.
"I don't think so; you seemed to have covered everything very—efficiently. Darling?" Amidala's voice was sweet but her frown was deep, her eyes filled with irritation.
"No, I don't think so," Zex smiled patiently patting her hand.
"Will you be present often Senator Hayden? I ask because we would have to make provisions for additional security if so," Ariana asked her voice as beautiful as the rest of her.
Zex met her piercing blue eyes with his absorbing green ones, "No, I'm afraid that seeing my intended while she is here on Coruscant is a treat since we are both wrapped up with our various duties in putting together our joint bill. At the rate we are going I will be lucky to see her at the wedding," he laughed richly eyes never leaving Ariana's; of course he was the only one who found it amusing.
"I feel I have to ask, why your Highness when it seems the threat to your life appears to be solely based on Naboo would you remain there? Why not take refuge here…or on another planet? Why risk the danger?" Ariana sought Amidala's eye contact wondering if she might learn something of the woman's character.
"Naboo is my home Jedi Kincade, I do not feel I should be run out of it by thugs. Furthermore it's been made painfully clear that those who wish me ill are many and their locations and perseverance to travel distance should it prove their goal fulfilled is unknown, so it remains rather impossible to say if there is anywhere that I would be safe."
Ariana nodded pleased with the Queen's answer, "Alright, good enough answer for me," she smiled at Amidala.
At that moment, Dempsey came in announcing that dinner had arrived.
"You're staying of course…?" Amidala said shocked as Obi-Wan and his colleagues stood heading for the door instead of the dining room.
"No, that wasn't our intent. We still have preparations to see to. We'll see you tomorrow on the landing pad," Obi-Wan held himself placid as he stood facing her, her gaze boring over him like laser beam. "Goodnight Queen Amidala, Senator Hayden." He bowed stiffly and Ariana and Anakin followed suit.
Amidala lifted her chin acknowledging him with the slightest and severest of nods. The Jedi's left in a billow of robes and Amidala and her bridegroom sat down to quiet, oppressing dinner.