Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of Lucasfilm.
"Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path. It's a prism of endless possibility, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know. I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. Follow me and ponder the question... "What if?"
Anakin and Obi-Wan were hot on the heels of Senator Amidala's would be killer. Though Skywalker had managed to down her Speeder, it didn't neutralize her completely. At this point his adenine was racing. His minds raced with all sorts of thoughts, thoughts that according to Yoda would lead to the dark side. What if Padme got killed? What if they couldn't find the one reasonable for the attacks. What if he failed his mission?
No he couldn't focus on that now. He just had to focus on the assassin. Running through the streets he pushed people out of way keeping on her like a bloodhound until she had darted into club. He cursed himself as frustration continued to boil in his veins, frustration that did not settle even when Kenobi called out his name
"She went into the club master!"
"Patience, use the force, think."
"Sorry Master."
"He went in there to hide not to run."
"Yes Master."
Obi-Wan handed Anakin his lightsaber which was lost during the chase.
"Next time try not to lose it. This weapon is your life."
"I try master."
Obi-Wan sighed. "Why do I get the feeling you are going to be the death of me?"
"Don't say that Master, your the closet thing I have to a father?"
"Then why don't you listen to me?" Obi-Wan asked.
Anakin's eyes narrowed as his lips slightly curled into a sneer. His thought tightened as if had were trying to swallow a stone. Upon giving a rebuttal, his voice came out in little more than a whisper.
"I am trying master."
The Under City nightclub was a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Spice traders, death stick dealers, lonesharks, smugglers, all of them used places like this as a sort of hideaway. If one wanted to vanish and blend in, a nightclub like this was the place to do it.
"Do you see him?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I think he is a she, and I think she is a changeling." Anakin corrected.
Obi-Wan nodded. "In that case we need to be extra careful."
Obi-Wan could sense the inner storm that was within his padawan. In truth he couldn't blame him. In less than twenty-four hours he reunited with padme only to discover that someone was trying to kill her, and had just experienced a high speed chase. On top of all that he was having night terrors about his mother that prevented him from sleeping. None of that would be good for his emotional well being or his ability to see things clearly.
"Your mind is too clouded you need to relax. I'll go find her."
"What do I do in the meantime master?" Anakin asked.
Obi-wan smirked slightly. "Go for a drink."
"There. That's the moment that created a new universe. When Obi-Wan decided to look for the bounty hunter and let Anakin relax to have a drink, he had no way of knowing he completely changed the fate of the galaxy."
Anakin sat at the bar table, letting out a sigh of relief. As much as he hated sitting around, he couldin't help but feel as if his master was right. He really did need a drink.
"Psst Hey ya wanna buy some death sticks?"
Anakin let out a grunt not even looking at the man behind the voice.
"No, thank you."
"Come on these are the best in the core rim. Lowest prices too."
"I said no thank you." Anakin spoke with a more beastial growl. the death stick dealer backed away a bit.
"Alright, alright. sheesh."
as the dealer left, the bartender came. "What can I do yer for?"
"Corellian Firebomb, shaken not stirred." Anakin said firmly.
"coming right up."
As Anakin waited, he noticed a shadow standing over him.
"Hey Handsome, mind if I join you?"
Anakin looked up to see a curvaceous twi'lek with purple skin and a tight plumb dress giving him a smile. As much as he wasin't expecting a drinking buddy, he wasin't going to turn one down. Obi-Wan taught him to be a gentlemen if nothing else.
"By all means. I was afraid at first you were that death stick dealer."
The Twi'lek giggled. "What, Elan Sel'Sabagno? Please, I like some good rankweed as much as the next girl, but You couldin't pay me to touch a Death Stick."
Anakin grinned slightly. "Respect, What's your name?"
"Lunae Minx, and yours?"
"Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker."
Lunae gave him a sly smile. before ordering herself whiskey. The two began to talk about themselves. It turned out that Lunae was the niece of Senator Orn Free Taa and the daughter of the owner of the Offworld Mining Corporation.
"It's getting worse, the political tension I mean. my dad's becoming more and more vocal about his...dissatisfaction with the Republic. There's rumors in the outer rim about a separatist movement gaining traction."
"Yes, Master Windu and Yoda spoke of such things too. Why would anyone want to break away from the republic and align themselves with a corporatocracy? the corporations only care about amassing wealth for themselves"
Minx's lips frowned only slightly. "Hate, to disappoint you Skywalker, but so does the senators."
"What do you mean?" Anakin asked.
"Let me ask you a question and it's fine if you don't know the answer. The jedi are peacekeepers and not economist after all. Where do you think the funding for those penthouses in the senate and federal district comes from?"
Anakin shrugged. "Personal funding?"
Minx had to stifle a fit of giggling. "Wonder thought, but no. It comes from the so called "Infrastructure budget" that the republic passes every year.
"And where does the funding from that come from?" Anakin asked.
Minx smirked. "Ah, see now you're getting it. Answer that question and you'll get to the heart of people's dissatisfaction. To answer your question it's taxes. Taxes, secret deals bribes, Pork barrel projects, all at the curiosity of the people's coffers. Bribes are made, regulations get passed at a surprising breakneck speed by the way, and people like my uncle get to live high on the hog while the people in his home world can't even afforded to maintain their own militia.
The trade federation, the banking clan, those guys can afford it. In fact, they love regulation. It means for a few extra thousand credits a year they guarantee that their competition is squashed and they get to rake in record profits with less effort."
Anakin scratched his chin as he took another drink. "It makes sense in theory but something doesn't add up. If the trade federation loves regulation why would they blockade Naboo over taxes that would hinder their competition more than themselves?"
Minx again smiled. "Careful Skywalker, now your going into conspiracy theory territory."
"Sounds like you have a theory of your own."
Minx touched the rim of her glass. "Not so much myself as my father."
"What's his theory?"
"Someone on the inside talked Nute Gunray into committing the blockade. Doing it in secret so that by the time word got out to the senate a treaty would have been signed to make the occupation legal. The Trade Federation was probably promised a cut in Naboo's plasma trade."
"Would they have reason to leave the republic now?"
Minx shrugged. "They would if they felt like they were double-crossed."
She chugged a bit of whiskey down before giggling. "Alright well enough about me let's talk about you."
Anakin told some of his story only to find his lips were getting looser and looser as more liquor was consumed.
"There's this woman, when we first met I called her an angel, we met up recently and...I still have feelings for her. The problem is well...She's a senator."
"A senator?" Minx nearly did a spit take. "Kriff Skywalker, talk about go big or go home."
"My master says a politicians aren't to be trusted. But she's not like the rest...she's different. But I know jedi aren't supposed to have attachments. I don't know."
Minx couldn't help but smirk. While she wasn't exactly a scoundrel or a ruffian, she couldn't deny that she found Skywalker very attractive, and she wanted him for herself. If she had an opportunity to take a shot, then she would take it.
"Well, I'm not some wise Jedi Master or anything, but I can say as a niece of a senator, getting involved with them is trouble. Even if they themselves aren't a bad person, it's a nasty business...especially if your dealing with people of the opposite sex."
"Meaning what exactly?"
"Meaning if you can't invest a lot of personal time with them, your relationship is going to end up being toxic. You said you haven't seen this woman in years, do you know anything about her? What are her likes her dislikes, what her priorities in life are? Do you guys even share the same interest. If you can't answer any of these questions how can you know for sure you love her? Besides, your job is to protect her right?"
Anakin nodded.
"Well, it's going to be hard to focus on being her protector when your obsessed with having sex with her. In law enforcement they call it being compromised. Maybe you need to step back from the situation and help somewhere else."
Maybe it was the liquor talking, but at that moment what Minx was saying did seem to make sense. In truth he really didn't know much about Padme or her politics. Nor did he really have any use for such a thing. He was a simple man with a simple view on life. He was not loyal to ideals, but people. As much as he dreamed about Padme and what she was like he had no way of knowing if that dream was a reality. Besides he was already being plagued with enough dreams in the form of nightmares as it was. Maybe it'd be best if he stayed away from Padme for a bit.
"You know what, thanks for the advice. Maybe when this is all over we can get to know each other..."
Anakin suddenly spun backwards lightsaber drawn and in full swing. Even drunk, his senses were still strong enough to know what was going on around him. The Assassin let out a squeal as her hand fell on the floor with the blaster limply falling with it.
"Whoa." Minx found herself enthralled with the Jedi's reflexes and physical prowess. What started out as attraction started becoming more intense feelings.
"Jedi business go back to your drinks." Anakin commanded as he and his master collected the assassin. as they walked out Minx shot him a concerned look only for him to give a reassuring smile in kind.
The interrogation ended up being a disaster. before the assassin had a chance to reveal any information, she was killed by a toxic dart. Where it came from neither Anakin or Obi-Wan could say but it could hold a clue as to whom was behind all of this.
"Master...I've been thinking and I don't think it'd be a good idea for me to get involved with Senator Amidala, with our previous history I'm afraid my personal feelings could get in the way of the mission."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened a bit upon hearing this. "Where did this sudden insight coming from." Anakin thought of speaking of the Twi'lek girl he met at the club but thought better of it. "I guess sitting down for a drink helped me reevaluate my position on things."
Obi-Wan smiled an put a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "It takes wisdom to acknowledge ones weaknesses. I have no doubt someday you'll be a great jedi."
Anakin smiled upon hearing this. "Thank you master."
"You are very welcome. if you are concerned you are compromised, I will accompany Senator Amidala to Naboo. In the meantime, see what you can find out about this dart. If we can find it's source we may be able to find who marked her for death."
Anakin nodded. "Of course, master."
Anakin felt elated. He couldn't remember the last time Obi-Wan had told him he could be a good jedi. Still his thoughts drifted back to the purple Twi'lek he met earlier. Lunae Minx an admittedly pretty name. Part of him hoped they'd run into each other again soon. but he had to put that on the back burner for now. He had an investigation to conduct. His first stop as always would be the council archives.
A/N: Fun fact: Lunae Minx is a real background character that appears in Episode 2 of attack of the clones. to quote Wookiepedia
"Lunae Minx was a purple-skinned female Twi'lek, belonging to one of the rarest color variations of her people. She was the mysterious friend of the exotic dancer Ayy Vida. She was present at the Outlander Club in 22 BBY, when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker entered looking for Zam Wessell and showed significant interest in the latter Jedi." another fun fact, she's played by Katie Lucas."
What do you think of the setup? Does this diversion from the original timeline seem plausible?