Obi-Wan and Aleia crept soundlessly down the stairs. They had sent Anakin to get Padmé and bring her out safely, knowing she would not be happy, but would probably listen to Anakin more than anyone else. Obi-Wan just hoped that both Anakin and Aleia would not do anything stupid.

Aleia reached the next flight of stairs first. She leapt gracefully off the top and landed silently. Obi-Wan did the same, though not as showy, landing next to her. He gave her a stern "this isn't training any more; stop showing off," look. She looked back playfully and smirked before starting off for the hanger.

Great, battle humor, Obi-Wan thought to himself. Then again, that's not surprising. Aleia hadn't had an easy childhood, or at least Obi-Wan gathered that much from the commanding presence she had at her young age. All he knew for sure was that Aleia was a piece of work.

Aleia sighed as they approached the hanger as though she knew something Obi-Wan didn't, which annoyed the hell out of him. They hid behind a pillar and didn't need to peek around to know there were squadrons of battle droids preparing to storm the hotel lobby.

"All right, just follow my le- Aleia?" Obi-Wan began, but Aleia had already jumped out and hit the ground running. She blocked shots in all directions almost effortlessly. Obi-Wan joined her moments later.

"I ran in to these on Malastar a while ago," she said. They destroyed the lines and rested briefly before the next group arrived.

"Aleia, you haven't changed," said Obi-Wan.

"What ever could you mean?" she said playfully as she twirled her gold bladed lightsaber around as a rabid colorguard member might do with a flag. Obi-Wan shook his head.

"Let's just say that your abruptness won't always cut it," he said.

"Don't' start-" said Aleia, for they both sensed more droids coming. A dozen destroyer droids rolled out to meet them.

"Oh I these blasted things," said Obi-Wan. Aleia smirked. "Oh no, Aleia-"

It was too late. She went flying at the droids and tried to break their shields, but on contact, her gold blade flashed blue, green, purple, red and then black before dying completely. She flipped backwards and landed behind Obi-Wan.

"That wasn't what I'd planned," said Aleia as she ignited another lightsaber, this one with a red blade. "You could have told me I can't break the shield."

"I tried," said Obi-Wan grinning. "If you'd only listen once in a while-"

"Shut up, I've got an idea," she said.

Obi-Wan groaned, "Not again."

Aleia stopped suddenly. She turned to Obi-Wan and put a hand up to the droids, sending a wave of Force and knocking them all over; "What did you say to me Obi-Wan Kenobi?"

With the droids in a junk heap and a few minutes before the next round, Obi-Wan laughed. "That's called aggression, they have workshops for that."

"Hey, if it works…" Aleia started as she Force summoned her gold blade back to her. Another round of fire started.

"Let's go."

Padmé changed into a simple dark tunic before they left. She wasn't happy about leaving, but Anakin had sweet-talked her into it. They crept down toward the hanger without a word. Anakin had explained that Obi-Wan and Aleia were trying to hold off the droids as long as they could. Padmé winced as they neared the battle and Anakin pulled her closer to him. At the doorway just before the hanger, Anakin pulled her aside behind the same pillar Aleia and Obi-Wan had hid behind not long before.

"Shouldn't they hear the shots in the plaza outside?" asked Padmé.

"I know," said Anakin. "Just follow my lead and I'll get us across."

He pulled her arms through the sleeves of his cloak and took her hands. He kissed her cheek briefly and put on a Jedi burst of speed, slowing down only when they were well up the entrance ramp. The two of them (now under their own cloaks) raced into the cockpit. Anakin practically dove into the pilot's chair, while Padmé modestly took the navigator's chair (she could have sworn she heard Aleia, through the ship's hull, in the midst of battle and surrounded by battle droid carnage, shouting, "Was she under his cloak?").

"Trigger, trigger, where is it… AH HA!" said Anakin as he searched the panel. He grabbed the trigger and started blasting the droids out of Obi-Wan and Aleia's way. With two Jedi and a ship's cannons, the droids were down in no time, allowing Obi-Wan and Aleia to get on board safely before more arrived.

"He flies too?" said Aleia reaching the cockpit. "Is there anything wonder-boy doesn't do?"

"Modesty," said Padmé and Obi-Wan as Anakin flew the ship out of the hanger and into the Naboo sky.

"Where to, Master?" asked Anakin, slightly peeved.

"Anywhere not here," sighed Obi-Wan, wiping his brow.

"How about Bespin?" said Aleia. "I've got friends there, I think…"

"The cities in the clouds?" said Padmé.

"You THINK?" said Anakin as he set their course and jumped to light speed.

"It has been a while… don't worry, I'll get us around, trust me," said Aleia.

"That's what I'm afraid of," said Anakin.

Padmé left the cockpit trying unsuccessfully to hold in a grin.

"Aleia, go with her," said Obi-Wan. Aleia, sensing a lecture and feeling generous, obliged.

"Which lecture is this, Master?" said Anakin as soon as she'd left. "Anger, fear, patience, economics of politics… modesty?"

"Padmé," Obi-Wan replied simply.

Anakin stared straight ahead. He and Padmé had been married that evening before Obi-Wan and Aleia arrived, and he wasn't about to incriminate himself.

"Don't think you know what I'm going to say, because I understand," said Obi-Wan.
Anakin turned to Obi-Wan with new interest.

"I'm not going into details," said Obi-Wan quickly. "Now, the Council would disapprove if they knew, but until we return Senator Amidala safely to Coruscant or Naboo, and as long as things don't get out of hand, I'll turn a blind eye."

"Th-thank you, Master," Anakin stammered as he stared in awe at his now much more respected Master. "But why?"

Obi-Wan said nothing. He got up and left in the direction Aleia had gone.

"You told him what?" said Aleia.

"I'd turn a blind eye for the time being, as long as it doesn't get out of hand," said Obi-Wan. "I'm sure you understand."

"What the hell did you tell him that for? Ben, she was in his cloak!" scolded Aleia.

"Aleia, we're powerless to stop him. Besides, I'm hoping Padmé can mellow him out some," said Obi-Wan. "It's only till we return."

"Why the hell would I understand?" said Aleia.

"Hey, you wanted me to loosen up," he said and pulled the table out from under her.
Aleia had been leaning her chair on the wall and balancing with her feet on the table.

"Damn you, Ben!" she shouted from the floor. She slid herself down the slick floor towards Obi-Wan and popped up next to him.

"You know," Obi-Wan began, sneaking his arm around her, "Anakin and Padmé aren't the only ones I'll turn a blind eye to…"

As a Jedi Master, he turned a blind eye to his feelings about Aleia; as a horny 35 year old, he focused all his attention to acting on them. Aleia looked up at him and suddenly seemed young, sweet and innocent… then she spat in his face. Obi-Wan wiped his face with his sleeve and glared at Aleia, who then knocked him backward and started making up for lost time.

Padmé couldn't sleep, so she wandered back to the cockpit. She found Anakin asleep at the controls (thankfully, the ship was on auto pilot). He jumped as she put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm awake!" he yelled. Padmé laughed.

"I know," she said gently. "Some wedding night, huh? How much farther to Bespin?"

"Not too far, I think… wait a minute. What's- oh shit," said Anakin as he looked at the screens.

"What now?" Padmé said, leaning on Anakin from behind with her arms around him.

"We're being followed," said Anakin. "I don't sense a homing devise; I'll have to loose him- or her," he added as her grip tightened painfully.

Padmé smiled and kissed him before sliding into the copilot's seat. Anakin pulled them out of hyper drive with an evil grin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, fugitives and convicts, slime of the universe: I give you podracing," he said. Padmé's smile disappeared and she grabbed the seat firmly.

Anakin chuckled, "Relax, I'm very good at this."

"I've seen, and that's not comforting," said Padmé.

Anakin just smiled and planed his moves. He started using some of the same maneuvers he'd used while following Zam the assassin back on Coruscant. It was basically the same thing but without the lanes of sky traffic. Their pursuer followed. Anakin gave a dramatic yawn as he put them into a controlled downward spiral.

"You're insane," groaned Padmé, looking slightly green.

"Hey, you married me," said Anakin as he watched the other ship copy him. Anakin pulled up just before some cosmic debris; the other ship veered to the left.

"Good," he said.

"BAD!" yelled Aleia as she and Obi-Wan hung on to the doorway for dear life.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Loosing a parasite," said Anakin.

"And showing off," Padmé finished for him, holding her stomach.

Aleia checked the scanners and saw the pursuing ship and it's disgruntled pilot desperately trying to copy the Jedi transport and it's obviously skilled yet reckless pilot.

"Well why didn't you come get us?" she said.

Anakin ignored her and veered down and to the right. Something shook the ship good and hard; something else clanged around in the back. Alerts were starting to sound.

"Gee, that sounded great," said Aleia sarcastically.

"Thank you for that assessment," said Anakin, returning the sarcasm. He stood up and shoved Aleia into the pilot's seat. "I'm gonna go fix whatever broke. If you're so great, you pilot us out of this."

"Oh no," said Obi-Wan as Aleia took the controls. Aleia ignored his statement for the time being.

"You're certain there's no homing devise?" said Padmé; she half hoped there was, just to avoid more podracing.

Aleia and Obi-Wan shut their eyes briefly and nodded. Padmé smiled weakly. She was torn between staying for the action and lying down, but decided to stay since she was sick of being told what happened after the fact.

Aleia started flying even more recklessly than Anakin had. She changed directions every few seconds and curving every which way.

"Hey, if only something broke and started spewing smoke, you could see the patterns- I just spelled my name!" she said happily.

"Aleia…" warned Obi-Wan, also holding his stomach. She grinned and floored it. Aleia looped their pursuer with ease and flew straight up.

"Ouch!" Anakin's voice crackled over the intercom. "You wanna watch it up there? Keep knocking me around and we'll need a new ship!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Aleia in mock apology.

"No, I'm serious! My arm was tangled in a wire and you just made me rip it out!" he explained.

"The arm or the wires?" said Aleia to Obi-Wan and Padmé. She checked the scopes and the ship was nowhere in sight.

"Just jump to light speed," said Obi-Wan with a hand on his temple. Aleia pulled the handle, but nothing happened. She pushed it back and tried again- still nothing.
She repeated the procedure over and over.

"DAMN IT! Why won't the mother fu-" Aleia began, but Obi-Wan lunged forward and put a hand over her mouth.

"I'll see you clean up your mouth one way or an- OW!" he said, but then Aleia bit his hand.

"You're thinking I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing," she said sweetly, reading his thoughts.

"I hate to ruin the moment," said Padmé, "but I don't think we can get to Bespin with no hyper drive."

"Damn," Aleia muttered once more. She punched the intercom and said, "Anakin, tell me those repairs coming well."

"What's you're definition of that?" came the answer. Aleia sighed heavily.

"Hang on," said Anakin. "Try it now."

Aleia pulled the lever and yet again nothing happened. She said into the comlink,

"Nothing. Just hang on, I'm coming back there."

"Oh great."

Obi-Wan took the controls as Aleia left. Padmé rubbed her head.

"I hate flying," said Obi-Wan. "There's nothing on the scopes, I think they gave up."

"AH HAH!" they heard on the comlink. Aleia was laughing pretty hard, given the situation. "At last, after years of travel around the galaxy, I have found a man who plugs and extension cord into itself and can't figure out for the life of him why it won't work!"

"SHUT UP!" Anakin yelled back.

"Should we find a place to land?" asked Obi-Wan, fighting back a laugh.

"Probably," said Anakin and Aleia in unison.

"Where are we?" asked Padmé.

"No where near Bespin," said Obi-Wan. I think we're on the other side of the Outer Rim from Naboo, if we're still in the Republic."

Padmé stared out the window and said, "What's the nearest planet?"

Obi-Wan typed their position into the computer.

"Dantooine," he read.

"Dantooine?" said a voice from the door. Aleia was standing in the door frame with a sarcastic look on her face. Padmé nodded. "Come with me, Senator. You're going to see an image change."

She dragged Padmé out of the cockpit. The pushed past Anakin as they ran down the narrow corridor. He looked back curiously and Padmé shrugged and smiled- she was too tired at that point to do anything else.

Anakin continued on to the cockpit. Obi-Wan gestured at the copilot's seat.

"Where's the traveling circus off to next?" asked Anakin.

"Dantooine," said Obi-Wan. "It's like Tatooine, except with less illegal activity and more trees."

"So where is Aleia taking Padmé?" asked Anakin.

Obi-Wan began reflecting again.

"My young Padawan, I've known Aleia for over a decade. Not once in those ten years have I ever known what she had planed," he said. "Come to think of it, I don't think even she knows what she's doing half the time."

A little while later, they sensed Aleia and Padmé returning, but they weren't prepared for the sight. Aleia looked the same, but other than her face, Padmé was almost unrecognizable. She had on over her dark tunic a long black cloak. Her long curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a thin braid wrapped around it a few times and then falling on her right shoulder. It was the traditional appearance of the female Jedi apprentice.

"Aleia, what did you do?" said Obi-Wan slowly.

"I heard you saying that Dantooine has no love for politicians, and our Senator needed a makeover," explained Aleia.

Anakin had stood up and was staring slightly open mouthed at his wife; he had always liked her better when she was the centerpiece, rather than it being the elaborate gowns her position often required. Padmé looked like she was enjoying the attention.

Aleia continued, "She'll be posing as my apprentice for the time, and she has to look the part."

"There's just one problem, besides the Council's obvious disapproval," said Obi-Wan.

"There is the possibility of Anakin's 'aggressive negotiation'. Then what does she do?"

"Ah yes," said Aleia. "Well, that's easily worked out." She began digging into her cloak of many pockets. "Hang on- not the gold one… nope, that's a blaster, you got that… that's a comlink… YES! –No, that's pepper spray…"

Anakin threw a sidelong doubtful look at Obi-Wan as Aleia the human safe dug through her cloak.

"GOT IT!" said Aleia. She pulled a lightsaber out of her cloak and ignited it- it was the red blade. Anakin jumped slightly at the sight of another red blade, but recovered quick enough to reach over and close Padmé's dropped jaw.

"Aleia, I couldn't-" she began, but Aleia turned it off and shoved it into Padmé's hand.

"Take it," she said. "When we get there, just follow our lead and pray for luck."

She slid past Anakin into the copilot's seat.

Padmé smiled nervously and sat down across from the navigator's seat, which Anakin took. He leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, all an apprentice has to do is stand there and look intimidating."

"You seem to over step your role a bit much, then," said Padmé.

"Only around you," he replied and kissed her quickly so not to attract attention from the masters, despite Obi-Wan's leniency.

They landed smoothly on the outskirts of the settlement. All four of them set off for the back of the ship that Anakin and Aleia had been tearing apart. They'd taken a few tiles off the floor and climbed in to try to find the break.

"Don't worry, I'm good at fixing things," said Anakin as he climbed in to the pit of doom. Aleia rolled her eyes from above.

"Is it supposed to look that messy?" asked Padmé. Anakin ignored her remark and climbed into the floor.

"Let's see, the hyper drive is hooked up here; does anyone have a paper clip for the power supply?" they heard from below.

"Why do you need a paperclip?" asked Obi-Wan from above with his hand over his eyes.

"The circuit's broken!" Anakin yelled up. He sensed they all had doubtful looks on their faces, so he explained, "Come on, how do you think my pod and 3PO are held together?"

"That explains a lot," said Aleia, who was not the president of the 3PO fan club, to say the least. Padmé pulled a pin out of her hair and handed it down to Anakin. Aleia looked over the edge into the pit before heading back to the cockpit. She laughed out loud as soon as she was out of the room. Anakin let out an exasperated sigh.

"Well, can you fix it, Anakin?" said Obi-Wan.

Anakin dug through the wires a bit more before saying, "If there's a welder somewhere on board, then I can."

"I'll check the tools in the cockpit," said Obi-Wan and he left.

"What all isn't working?" asked Padmé.

"Power supply for one- like I said, that's what I need to weld the hair pin into, hyper drive-" Anakin began.

"SKYWALKER!" Aleia yelled over the comlink. "With all your messing around, YOU BROKE THE RADIO!"

"You'll live!" Anakin shouted up, even though he knew she wouldn't hear him. "WELDER!"

He dug through the wires looking for the radio cord. A shock told him he'd found it. Anakin was about to screw it back in when an idea occurred to him. He climbed out of the hole and looked up at Padmé.

"I found the break, but my hands are too big to fit," he said and grabbed Padmé's hands. "Yours might, though."

Anakin slid back into the pit and pulled Padmé in after him.

"You see that, right there?" he said, guiding her hands to the dangling wire.

"Yes," said Padmé, who was thanking her lucky stars that it was dark enough to hide her blush. She took the loose wire and plugged it back in, thinking that there wasn't any reason Anakin couldn't have done it himself. She didn't complain, though; it was close quarters.

"So while I'm down here, where's the hyper drive?" she said.

"It's in another sector," said Anakin. "Maybe I can make it work with a ring."

"Shut up," said Padmé as she elbowed him in the stomach. Sarcasm played a big part in Anakin and Padmé's relationship; it was almost like saying, "Just shut the hell up and kiss me," which Anakin did.

Neither Anakin nor Obi-Wan knew (or would admit if they did) how similar their love lives were. Both technically couldn't have a love life, yet both did; both had notoriously sarcastic women in their lives and were notoriously sarcastic themselves; both made certain that no one knew the half of their personal escapades.

Obi-Wan entered the cockpit to find Aleia flipping switches and hitting buttons like mad. She knew Obi-Wan had entered the room, but in no way acknowledged his presence. This bothered Obi-Wan slightly.

"Are you planning on tearing apart the entire ship single handedly?" he asked sarcastically.

"Maybe. Skywalker might help," she said from the pilot's chair. "Everything seems to work except the hyper drive and the-"

The radio came on blasting.

"Ok, so he fixed the radio," said Aleia, turning it down. "That doesn't mean I have to like him."

"Anakin wants to know if there's a welder on board," said Obi-Wan.

Aleia felt around her pockets and said, "Nope, not on me."

"What about the tool box on the dash?" Obi-Wan asked logically.

"Oh," said Aleia. "Nope, that's just nuts and bolts."

Obi-Wan raised and eyebrow and smiled, desperately trying to hold in a laugh. Aleia groaned and slid down under the dash to replace the piece she'd literally ripped out.

"So where's the hyper drive?" she asked.

"You know, I think I'll take care of that," said Obi-Wan quickly.

"Ben, you couldn't fix a puzzle," Aleia laughed.

Obi-Wan glared at the feet sticking out from under the dash and said, "I'm a good mechanic. You blow things up on a regular basis."

A screwdriver came flying out and just barley missed Obi-Wan's head. Aleia pushed herself out and popped up in the pilot's chair. Obi-Wan picked up the screwdriver and spun it around a bit, looking at Aleia as though he'd never seen anything like her before in his life, which he hadn't.

"Aleia, you're a piece of work," he said.

"Just shut the hell up and kiss me," said Aleia as she shifted position in the chair and looked at Obi-Wan invitingly. Obi-Wan took her in his arms as she put hers about him, and-

"Master?" said Anakin. He and Padmé were standing in the doorway with expressions of disbelief on their faces. Aleia sank quickly back under the dash to hide her red face; Obi-Wan hopped into the seat behind the pilot's and put his feet up.

"Yes, Anakin?" he said in a tense-but-trying-to-sound-calm voice.

"I was going to ask if you found a welder, but don't let me interrupt," said Anakin, still in shock.

Aleia gave a series of false coughs that sounded oddly like, "GO! LEAVE! NOW!"
Padmé turned to oblige; she suspected there was some Jedi rule(s) in strict violation and did not want to be around for whatever lecture followed. Anakin, however, knowing his temper and that he was less likely to blow it if she stayed, hung on to Padmé's elbow. He sensed and explanation coming from Obi-Wan.

"You're wondering how you're by-the-book master could break the code like this," said Obi-Wan as Aleia popped back up into the pilot's seat. Obi-Wan gestured for Anakin and Padmé to sit down. Padmé took the copilot's seat and Anakin the navigator's.

"I must admit my surprise, Master," said Anakin slowly.

"This is the only part of the code I do not agree with," said Obi-Wan. "A Jedi may have friends, but nothing more, although they would give their lives for both."
Aleia sighed and said, "I don't really agree with this code to begin with, so it doesn't matter either way to me."

"Does the Council know?" asked Anakin.

"As of yet, no," said Obi-Wan.

"Is it against your precious code to amend it?" spat Aleia.

"Probably," said Anakin.

"I shall discuss it with the Council if the problem persists when we return home," said Obi-Wan. "Now about that welder: why don't you head into the settlement and buy a new one?"

"Yes, Master," said Anakin. He and Padmé got up to leave and were off the ship in about five minutes. Aleia sat in Obi-Wan's lap as they watched them leave, walking so close they cast only one shadow.

"Can you believe him?" said Aleia. "Blatant violation of-"

"Can you spell 'hypocrite'?" said Obi-Wan.

"Well, we're both Jedi," said Aleia, unconvincing coming from her.

"Does it matter?" said Obi-Wan. "You don't even follow the code to begin with."

"They need more Jedi, we give 'em more Jedi," said Aleia determinedly.

Obi-Wan let her fall to the ground.

"I mean eventually," she added.

Obi-Wan leaned back in his chair, surprised and shocked as he usually was around
Aleia, who came over and sat on his lap once again.

"Oh Ben," she said smiling. "You look like you're afraid of me."

"Believe me, some days I am," he replied and kissed her neck.