Ayame could only put her arm around Obi-Wan and cry right along with him. A few minutes later, some security guards arrived and radioed Captain Panaka that they had been found. Apparently, the Queen has succeeded in recapturing the Capital and the Viceroy was now in custody. They summoned a medical capsule to get Qui-Gon out of there, even though Ayame had said that he was gone. Nevertheless, they brought him before the Queen, who was saddened to see the Jedi Master dead. She offered her sincere condolences to both of them before letting them know that the Jedi Council was on their way. Then, Ayame saw Anakin out of the corner of her eye. Excusing herself, she went over to him. He looked a little stunned.
"Anakin are you okay?" she asked. Anakin relayed to her how he had ended up flying that fighter that he had been hiding in and it was he who had blown up the droid control ship. However, his main concern was if Qui-Gon was okay. Ayame had no choice but to tell him the truth. Without a change in expression, tears started running down his face. Ayame sighed and gave him a hug.
"I don't want him to be gone," he said quietly.
"Anakin, you should know this. If there is one lesson a Jedi must learn well, it is not to mourn those who transform into the Force. Instead, be happy for them. We must all learn to let go of everything that we are afraid to lose. It is the only way that we can keep our loved ones safe. Plus, they are never truly dead, as long as we keep them alive in our hearts," she said.
"I still miss him though," Anakin said, his voice cracking.
"I know… and I miss him too," Ayame whispered. Then, Obi-Wan came over.
"We all miss him," he said quietly. A single tear ran down his cheek. Ayame stood up and brushed it away.
"Come on, I can sense Master Yoda nearby. He must be landing in front of the Palace soon," she said. Together, with the security guards who were with the Viceroy and the Queen, they all went to the front of the Palace in time to see a red Republic cruiser land in the street. The first people off were Republic guards and the new Chancellor, Chancellor Palpatine. The former senator from Naboo was now leading the entire Senate. As they walked forward, Ayame staggered at the amount of dark side energy that was radiating from the Chancellor. Obi-Wan stopped and grabbed her arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly. She was about to tell him, but Palpatine was too close.
"Yes, I'm fine. I just stumbled a little," Ayame said. How could he not…? Wait, he's still upset about Qui-Gon, she thought. Respectfully, she bowed along with Obi-Wan.
However, she kept an eye on the Chancellor, and vowed to do so from then on. The Jedi Council followed. Yoda requested that Obi-Wan and Ayame meet with him alone. They went into a sequestered room in the Palace where Ayame and Obi-Wan, in turn, reported on everything that had happened since they left Courescant with the Queen, all the way up to Qui-Gon's dying wish that Obi-Wan train Anakin to become a Jedi. Yoda paced back and forth and was silent for most of the tale. After another minute of silence, he spoke.
"Confer on the both of you the level of Jedi Knight, the Council does," he began. "But, agree with your taking this boy as your Padawan learner I do not." Ayame just looked down. This was between Obi-Wan and her master. She figured that it was better if she didn't say anything.
"I gave Qui-Gon my word," Obi-Wan protested. "I will train Anakin…without the approval of the Council if I must." Ayame couldn't help but smile. That was Qui-Gon talking. Yoda sensed it too.
"Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that, you do not," he said. He sighed and closed his eyes. "Agree with you, the Council does. Your apprentice, Skywalker will be." Obi-Wan sighed. Then, Ayame raised her eyes and spoke up.
"Master Yoda, about our wedding…" she started. Yoda looked at her and smiled. "I think that we should wait until after the peace celebration between the Naboo and the Gungans…and after Qui-Gon's funeral." She looked at Obi-Wan, who nodded in agreement.
"I agree," Yoda replied, and dismissed them both. Once outside, Obi-Wan pulled Ayame to him and held her close.
"Thank you for doing that," he said softly. She looked at him, smiled and kissed him gently.
"It seemed like the right thing to do," Ayame replied. "And, I think it would be better if we truly finished with the mission." The next night was the funeral. All were completely silent as the funeral pyre was lit and Qui-Gon's body went up in flames. As Ayame stared into the flames, she overheard Yoda talking to Master Windu.
"There's no doubt now that the mysterious attacker was a Sith," Master Windu said.
"Always two, there are," Yoda stated. "No more, no less: a master and an apprentice."
"But which was destroyed; the master or the apprentice?" Master Windu wondered. Ayame wondered the same thing. Then, her eyes fell on the Chancellor. He had the oddest look in his eye. She wasn't sure, but Ayame had a feeling that Palpatine was more than what he seemed.
