Chapter 16 - Refugees
Anakin returns a few hours after the chancellor leaves, his head hanging low and his usual grin absent from his guilty, and yet somehow still beautiful face.
"I take it you heard about my orders," I ask, angrily.
"I'm to escort you, M'Lady. Master Obi Wan will be too busy with another assignment." He looks away, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Do you know how long I've been back, Anakin?" I fold my arms, and shift so that he can't avoid my eyes.
"No, M'Lady."
"I've been here for two days. Two days."
"I imagine you aren't very excited to go back," he mumbles.
"Not at all," I burst out.
Suddenly, the elevator buzzes, and Jar Jar emerges.
"Jar Jar, I'm glad to see you," I smile. The Gungan smiles back, and then waves at Anakin.
"Whatta meesa do for yousa, M'Lady?"
"I'll be taking an extended leave of absence." He looks at me, confused. "It will be your responsibility to take my place in the senate. Representative binks, I know I can count on you."
He breathes, and says all he can remember of a course he took before he came here. "Meesa honored to be taking on thissa heavy burden," he says with a nod. "Meesa accept this with moy moy humility and ah-"
"Jar Jar, I don't wish to hold you up. I'm sure you have a great deal to do."
"Of course, M'Lady."
I whip around to continue my packing, which I started earlier that day. Anakin follows me, sheepishly.
"I do not like this idea of hiding," I tell him, angrily.
"Don't worry," he counters. "Now that the council has ordered an investigation, it won't take Master Obi Wan long to find this bounty hunter."
I whip around to face him, my frustration burning in my eyes. "I haven't worked for a year to defeat the 'Military Creation Act' to not be here when it's fate is decided!" I fling clothing into my arms, and plop them into my suitcase, carelessly.
"Sometimes we must let go of our pride, and do what is requested of us."
Something about his words calms my frazzled nerves, and I feel myself taking the first deep breath I've taken since this afternoon. "Anakin, you've grown up!"
Anakin smirks, coyly. "Master Obi Wan manages not to see it." He moves, distractedly to my window, and plays with a glass orb, making it rise and fall with his powers. "Don't get me wrong... Obi Wan is a great mentor. As wise as master Yoda, and as powerful as master Windu. I am truly thankful to be his apprentice." He pauses, in thought. "In some ways... a lot of ways... I'm really ahead of him. Im ready for the trials. But he feels that I'm too unpredictable! He won't let me move on..." He moves away from the window, beginning to pace, angrily.
"That must be frustrating," I say, almost like trying to comfort a child.
"It's worse," He complains, his breaths becoming faster as his emotions become present in his voice. "He's overly critical, he never listens... He doesn't understand! It's not fair!"
"All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow."
He sighs, taking a seat at the foot of my bed. "I know."
"Anakin," I coo, and he turns his head to look at me. I can tell he's on the verge of tears, and he wants to let go. "Don't try to grow up too fast."
"But I am grown up," he protests. "You said it yourself." He smirks, and looks at me, his eyes half lidded and beautiful. I can't help but stare at those gorgeous blue oceans, and I feel my stomach flutter, uncomfortably.
"Please don't look at me like that," I ask him, quietly.
"Why not," he challenges.
My heart drops into my stomach, and my body suddenly feels very warm.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable," I lie, looking away.
He steps back, shocked. "I'm sorry, M'Lady."
oOo
A few hours later, we find ourselves on a transport ship. The ship is long and flat, with several rows of seats lining each side, and large windows giving us a view of the city as we speed along Anakin sits next to Obi Wan, who folds his arms, annoyed. I keep to my side, where Dormé, dressed in my clothing, and Typho watch over me. For my safety, I'm dressed in a mustard yellow traveling gown, that makes me look less like a senator and more like a peasant. There's no way to really conceal my face, so we decided to make Dormé my new decoy. She doesn't look as much like me as Cordé did, nor is she as regal and practiced as Sabé had been, but she'll do alright. She holds my hand in hers, nervously stroking my fingernails, and biting her lip, until it begins to bleed.
"It'll be okay," I whisper under my breath. She squeezes my hand tighter, almost cutting off my circulation. Her shoulders shake and shudder as she sobs.
The ship finally slows to a stop on the loading yard of a large freight company. The business specializes in transport, and the ship that we'll be leaving on is a cargo ship that's been modified to be hospitable for refugees. The door of the speeder hisses open, and the five of us walk to the front of the speeder to get out. R2 follows us, whirring happily.
Obi Wan quietly advises Anakin. I can't hear what he's saying, but he seems to be laying down the law, and Ani is nodding along, annoyed.
"Be safe, M'Lady," says Typho, taking my hand.
"Thank you, captain," I smile. "Take good care of Dormé, the threat's on you two now."
Dormé sniffs, and tries to force a smile. "He'll be safe with me."
I wrap her in my arms, wishing every kindness and happiness upon her. My career, and the fate of the entire senate rests on her shoulders now. She stifles a sob again, her shoulders shaking in fear.
"You'll be fine," I tell her, taking her hands, and smiling.
"It's not me, M'Lady, I'm worried about you. What if they realize you've left the capital?"
Shudder to think of it, but force a laugh instead. "Well, then my Jedi protector will have to prove how good he is."
She laughs, remembering the earlier conversation in my room. I nod, and turn away, to face Obi Wan now.
"I will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, M'Lady. You'll be back here in no time," he says with a smile.
"I will be most grateful for your speed, master Jedi."
"It's time to go," mumbles Anakin.
"I know."
I hug Dormé one last time, and step out of the speeder, nodding goodbye.
"Anakin, may the force be with you." Obi Wan nods at his padawan, and his padawan nods back.
"May the force be with you, master," Anakin says, and turns toward the freight ship.
Suddenly, my body fills with chills, and my heart sinks into my stomach. Nerves bundle up inside of me, and I begin to breathe more shallowly.
"Suddenly, I'm afraid," I mumble.
"This is my first assignment on my own," Anakin explains, "I am, too."
I look back at him in fear, and he senses my discomfort.
"Don't worry," he reassures me with a smile. "We have R2 with us!"
We share a laugh, and join the crowd of nervous refugees boarding the ship.
oOo
During the hours we spend traveling, I make the most of my time. I packed a thin novel in my suitcase, and now I sit, curled up against the cold durasteel wall of this glorified storage container. The ship doesn't even have hyperspeed, just an old technology called superion. It travels much slower, so a normal three hour trip to Naboo is now an overnight ordeal.
Anakin sits opposite me, floating small pebbles he found on the floor about an inch above his hand. He's doing his best to practice without being noticed, while still staying near me, and under the radar.
I sigh, and fling the book to the side. It's almost 0600 hours, and we haven't eaten yet.
"You up for some food," I ask, casually tossing a wrap around my shoulders.
"Sure," he replies, bored.
We make our way to the small mess hall, and find a couple of crates set up next to another larger crate, and sit. R2 heads to the serving aisle, and grabs us some soup.
"So," say with a smile. "What is it like to be a Jedi?"
"It's alright," he says,
R2 returns with our food, and I thank him, and then turn back to Anakin. "It must be difficult, having sworn your life to the Jedi. Not being able to visit the places you like, or do the things you like-"
"Or be with the people that I love."
I stop, remembering our conversation before. 'Attachment is forbidden. Going to see her would be renewing an old attachment to her.'
"Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi."
He laughs, and looks down at our soup. "Attachment is... forbidden, possession is forbidden, compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life. So, you might say that we are... Encouraged to love."
He smirks, looking at me again with those sky blue eyes. I feel my heart drop again, and a rush of warmth tingles through my body. I try to mask it with a laugh. "You've changed so much," I stammer.
"You haven't changed a bit," he muses, staring back at me. "You're exactly how I remember you in my dreams."
I feel a shiver, and he looks away, ashamed.
"I'm sorry," he mumbles. "I'll try to control myself."
"It's alright, Ani," I lie. "You're a Jedi, it's normal for you to dream about the future."
He laughs under his breath, and gives me a look again. "Doesn't excuse my behaviors. I'm gonna go back to watch the stuff. You'll be okay with R2."
I nod, and watch him walk away. His shoulders are broad, and strong, his back long and flat, and that bottom...
Whoa. Nevermind, I think, and feel that rush of heat again. Embarrassment, probably.
oOo
I walk back to our spot about half an hour later, because I was taking my time walking back. I wasn't too keen on making a fuss when I got back. He's probably still embarrassed about before. When I get back, he's meditating, his eyes closed, hands on his knees as he sits cross-legged, breathing deeply. I make as little noise as I can while I sit down, and notice his shoulders releasing some tension. He almost grins, but stays mostly neutral.
He isn't having an easy time meditating.
I curl up against the wall, and yawn. It's early to be going to sleep, but I try to anyway, and after a few hours of laying down facing the wall, I feel myself drifting off.
Tomorrow, I'll be home.