Padmé hummed gently to herself as she prepared a pot of tea for herself and her expected guest. Chae was due to visit her for usual 'support' check up on Padmé's pregnancy. But Chae had mentioned that she had a request of her as well. The senator had to admit that she was very intrigued.

The doorbell rang. Dorme answered the door as Padmé finished what she was doing, showing Chae into the lounge area. Padmé followed them in with a small tea tray, a pot and two cups on it, which was placed on the coffee table. The two women greeted each other with a warm hug. After their usual exchange of Chae making sure Padmé was feeling well and was still receiving the correct medical care, Padmé finally brought the conversation around to what Chae wanted to ask her.

"This is going to seem like an odd thing to request from you, but I need some assistance with spying on someone," Chae explained. "Thing is, this person won't exactly be easy to spy on."

"Oh?" Padmé asked, even more intrigued.

Chae went onto explain about Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and her suspicions. If Chae had been talking about anyone else, Padmé would've been surprised at the accusations. But as it was Palpatine, it didn't surprise her one bit. She, too, had her own strange feelings about the Supreme Chancellor but she had never been able to put her finger on what those feelings were exactly.

After pondering on things for a moment, Padmé responded, "let me see who I can contact for you. I think I may know a person who could get into the Supreme Chancellor's own private apartment to set up what you need…. I'll need to get plans for the apartment as well…."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Chae smiled, as Padmé made plans for what was needed. At least Padmé was onboard with this. The senator reassured Chae that she would contact her once she had the plans and needed them taken to the contact who'd need them.

The lower levels of Coruscant could be really rough. It was teeming with criminals, drug dealers and other unsavoury types. It also wasn't unusual to see sex workers plying their trade too. Two figures made their way through the crowds towards one particular bar. Padmé had come through with her promise and now Chae was heading to meet the contact.

Chae stepped into the seedy bar. She was grateful that Tom had agreed to join her. There was no way she would've felt comfortable going there alone, Jedi or not. Chae had considered taking a fellow Jedi with her but then thought better of it. It would make them too obvious. So, instead, she had taken the former smuggler with her. He would fit in far better, helping Chae blend in more too. Also, Tom was more accustomed to frequenting such places, so he was in a better position to 'read the room' and let her know if things were about to turn nasty.

Padmé had also insisted that Chae take someone with her, rather than go alone, as she was concerned for her safety. Chae may be a Jedi but Padmé still didn't want Chae taking any unnecessary risks. Deciding it was easier not to argue with a pregnant senator, Chae had agreed to her terms.

Chae was dressed in very tight dark trousers, a dark blue long sleeved shirt with a matching dark blue cape that came down to her knees. It meant she could easily hide her lightsaber under it. Tom's outfit consisted of black trousers, white shirt and black waistcoat. A blaster hung at his hip.

Spotting the person they were meant to meet, the two headed towards the private booth. The contact was a female presenting Echani. They were very distinctive looking, with their alabaster skin and short white hair. As Chae got closer, she noticed the Echani's beautiful silver eyes. After exchanging the code phrases to confirm that they were all there on Padmé's request, Chae and Tom sat down. Once drinks were ordered and brought to the table, the Echani asked for them not to be disturbed for a while. The server nodded and left, pulling the curtain across the entrance of their booth; indicating that the patrons wanted to be left alone.

Chae handed over the datapad that contained the plans for the private senatorial apartment block. Once the Echani was satisfied that they had what was promised, the datapad was switched off and promptly stored away. Everything was already set up, ready to go, in the communication control room in the Jedi Temple. Once everything was set up at the other end, then the system would do the work for them.

Chae was thankful that there wasn't too many questions from the contact. She was already a bag of nerves without dealing with twenty questions. As far as the Echani was concerned, they had been paid and had the information they needed to complete the job. They didn't need anything else. Once their drink was consumed, they politely made their goodbyes and left the private booth.

"Well, no turning back now I guess," Chae said, more to herself.

Placing a hand on her forearm, Tom responded, "you're doing the right thing. I'm no Jedi but I'm a great believer in following your instincts. It's kept me alive all of this time."

Standing at the table in the private storage room, Chae was sorting through some old books. The Temple library had a couple of storage rooms for physical books coming off the main library. As she wasn't needed in the medical wing that day, Jocasta Nu had asked Chae to assist with the processing of some books that had come into their possession recently. Chae welcomed the distraction.

Just days before, after meeting with Padmé's contact, Chae had gotten the necessary people together to make arrangements for Evana's care. Bail Organa, Qui-Gon, Asia and Obi-Wan were all in attendance. Without hesitation, Bail said he was more than happy to arrange for Evana to move to Alderaan, should she need to have guardians take over her care. He also added that Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Asia, along with her family, would all be welcomed as well if they needed sanctuary. Padmé, Anakin and Ahsoka would be extended the same invite.

Chae had already spoken with Obi-Wan privately before this particular meeting happened; they had done so on the day when she had first suggested her idea to the council. He had found her on the balcony once he had managed to excuse himself from the council chamber. Obi-Wan was uncertain about what she was planning to do and desperately wanted to talk her out of the whole thing. He knew he wouldn't be able to talk her down now that her mind was made up; it had more been for himself, to give himself that feeling of having at least tried. Years of training under Qui-Gon, and a years long friendship with Chae, had taught Obi-Wan that there was no point in trying to change either of their minds once they decided they were going to do something.

Chae was so caught up in her work with the books, that she didn't notice Obi-Wan had entered the room. It wasn't until he snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her neck that Chae realised she had company. The books she had been sorting lay forgotten. Chae melted into him, enjoying the sensation of Obi-Wan's lips and facial hair against her skin, as he kissed his way up her neck. Even after all these years, Obi-Wan was still able to have an effect on her, even when he wasn't trying to.

"And to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Gently sighing into her neck, Obi-Wan responded, "I just wanted to see you before I head out for my next assignment."

"You're worried about leaving me, with everything that's going on, aren't you," Chae stated more than asked, as she turned herself around in his arms to face him.

"I never could keep anything from you," Obi-Wan said with a tired smile, resting his forehead against hers, hands now resting on her hips.

There was more going on in Obi-Wan's head that had nothing to do with his worries about her welfare. Chae had been able to pick up on it since he'd returned home. But she was unable to fully read what it was. It was like a sound just on the edge of hearing that she couldn't quite make out. It was about a person; a woman. That was all she could tell. Chae chose not to push it for now. He had his barriers up for a reason. She knew Obi-Wan would let her in and tell her when he was ready.