A/N So sorry this has taken so long to get out, a lot has happened in my little bubble e.g. new computer, exams, exam results, getting into Vet School :D, writers block etc etc. Anyway, thanks have to go to 'Pharoh's Assassin' for the very needed wake up call. I had also been waiting on my beta but it appears that there are communication difficulties again so I got impatient, apologies in advance for spelling mistakes that have been missed.

Chapter ten

All three of them stood in the Council Chamber; padawans either side of their Master, facing Jedi Masters Windu and Yoda.

"I believe she was a Changeling." said Anakin.

"Make things difficult, that would." said Yoda.

"Well … no, not really, see, when she was shot by the poisoned dart she changed back to her original form."

Master Yoda looked to Obi-Wan for confirmation, brow raised.

"She was recognised as a Clawdite, Masters, so I cross referenced her DNA sample with archives in our possession of Clawdites living in our Star System and known Changelings."

"And what have you found?" asked Windu.

"Her name was Zam Wesell. Her clan and history matched that in our archives but we do not have any more recent information on her, which is a shame considering that she was killed before we could get her to confess her employer's name. All we know is that it was a Bounty Hunter, presumably held in high esteem."

"With this poisoned dart, was your Changeling killed?" asked Yoda.

"Yes, Master." said Echo, stepping forward. "We retrieved the dart itself but I did not recognise its markings as being from this Star System. My own knowledge is out of depth in this case but I am willing to go to a contact I have who can tell us more. If the Council wishes it."

Yoda made an approving noise in the back of his throat, giving her a smile, indicating that she could step back now.

"And what of Senator Amidala? What is her condition?" asked Windu.

"Echo checked her over soon after the assault – she was not harmed and has no clear signs of infection but she will need to be monitored closely." said Obi-Wan.

"Very well. Obi-Wan you will go with Echo to her contact and continue to track down this Bounty Hunter until you are needed elsewhere." said Windu.

"What of Senator Amidala? She will still need protecting." said Obi-Wan

"Handle that, your first padawan will." said Yoda, smiling kindly at Anakin.

"Why don't you send the second padawan out to join the first? Master Kenobi can surely handle the search for this Bounty Hunter on his own and Senator Amidala would benefit more from having double the protection." suggested Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"She is too young to work an assignment on her own, even if it is with Skywalker too." said Kit Fisto. Echo made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat.

"It is not her age that concerns us, it is her health. Echo, you have recently suffered a trauma and I hope that you can recognise that you will be under our watch for some time." Windu turned to her.

"Bu-" she started but Obi-Wan subtly motioned her to silence.

"Echo understands that her condition is still questionable but I feel, as her Master, that she is, in fact, capable of any position instructed to her."

"Unknown, the side effects are. Still in trouble, she could be." said Yoda, watching Echo's reactions closely; her face dropped and she watched the floor intently but did not argue.

"The Senator is very comfortable with Echo, much more than she is with just me. If Senator Amidala asked for Echo's presence and she was no longer needed with Master Obi-Wan, would she be allowed to join us?" asked Anakin. He wasn't worried about having an assignment of his own, in fact he was very much excited about the idea, but Echo had the right to help him and as her condition improved, confidence was the best thing she could be offered to help her recovery.

"We'll see how things go, I think." said Windu. "Anakin, you will escort Senator Amidala back to Naboo, use only public transport; this will try to help you keep a low profile." Anakin bowed in acknowledgement. "Master Kenobi, you will continue to search for this assailant with Echo's assistance until further notice."

The three of them bowed deeply and left the Council Chamber.

Once they had left, Ki-Adi-Mundi turned back to Mace Windu. "Do you seriously think that young Echo is a risk on her own?"

"Her condition is not stable yet and any side effects have still not revealed themselves, so until this health issue has been resolved I think it is best that she remains under watch." answered Windu.

"In immediate danger, I do not see her." said Yoda, staring at the floor, trying to read into the Force. Slowly he turned his gaze to his companions. "Care, we must take, else cause more problems, this could."

"I do not like this idea of hiding." said Padmé angrily as she packed her bags to leave.

"Sometimes we must look past our differences and do what is requested of us." said Anakin without really thinking, staring out the window.

"Ani, you've grown up." She said in a mockingly sweet voice, hands clasped to her chest.

"He's not the pesky little twerp he used to be." Echo grinned from her seat, cross legged on Padmé's bed, surrounded by clothes and boxes.

Padmé laughed and turned back to her wardrobe.

"I'm sure you have lots of childhood stories. Maybe you could tell them to me some time."

"Oh certainly, any excuse to make the great Anakin Skywalker blush like a youngling."

"Oh, I'm going to love this trip, aren't I? Now I'm exceedingly happy that you're not coming with us, Echo." Anakin rolled his eyes.

"Come on, you'll miss me and you know it."

"Well, I know that I wish you were coming. Oh! Towels." Padmé said and quickly left to go fetch the items she had left next door.

Echo stood to go stand with Anakin at the window.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Right, that's why you're being all quiet and stoic and weird."

He rolled his eyes at her again.

"Look, you know you're going to be great out there, you have nothing to worry about. But, hey, at least you have R2 with you." She grinned at him.

"I'm honestly not worried; I know I'll do fine without the both of you." Echo gave a little pout. "You know what I mean."

"Then cheer up. Whatever's bothering you will be gone tomorrow and you're going to need to be sharper than this if you're going to keep and eye on your Senator." He looked at her questioningly. "You know she's probably trying to break out as we speak, right?"

Anakin took one step toward the bathroom before Padmé returned. He thumped Echo's arm when she giggled.

"Ok, I think I'm all set." said Padmé and she sat on the edge of the bed. "You know, I didn't work so hard on this petition to see it all come together without me being there."

"Don't worry, I'm sure Senator Organa will do a fine job without you and everything will fall into place the way you planned it, you'll see." said Echo, sitting next to her again.

"And if it doesn't work we have other methods." said Anakin staring meaningfully at Echo.

"Ok, word of advice." Said Echo, turning back to Padmé. "Don't let him influence you by promoting his 'aggressive negotiations' they won't work for you're line of work … most likely."

"Aggressive negotiations?" Padmé looked between Anakin and Echo, her eyes glazed with confusion.

"Bare with me, I'm certain he'll bring it up again."

"Hey! Don't give her the wrong impression." Anakin's expression opened out to a mischievous grin.

"Echo, I'm so sorry you're not well enough to come." Padmé pulled her into a hug. "If it's any conciliation you're going to be greatly missed and I'll come up with some way to get you out there with us to see my home."

"I'll miss you too."

They all walked out to get the Senator's luggage downstairs, Padmé nattering away with one of her hand maids about what they should do without her presence.

"Ok, so explain something to me." Echo whispered in Anakin's ear, he inclined his head to hear her better. "Ani?"

"Yeah … that was something that my mother used to call me when I was little … Padmé met me when I was little and kind of assumed that was what she should call me. Honestly, I hate it but it's a bit late to tell her now." He shrugged.

"Ha! Only ten years late."

"Exactly … please don't hold on to this too long. I can already see that thing in your eyes."

"What thing in my eyes?" she smirked at him.

"That evil glint … oh, never mind, it's too late for that too. Now I'm genuinely glad we're going to be separated for a while."

They took a public transport vehicle to the inter galactic hanger so that they could catch the next star ship to Naboo. No matter what Padmé had argued about her need to be at the Senate she kept quiet when they got this far because, for all her quarrels, she was glad to be safe home soon.

They stopped before disembarking the vehicle since this was the end of the line for all but Anakin and the Senator. Padmé was being briefed again on what she was to do once she left them now and warned that she was no longer under the familiar watch of her guards. The Jedi was young.

Anakin was waiting fairly patiently, leaning up against the wall of the cabin.

"So." Echo leant next to him. "What are you going to do without me?"

"Actually succeed?" Anakin smirked at her.

"Oh, yeah? Wonna bet?"

They laughed, both grinning like fools. "So. You sure you can handle running the investigation on your own?"

"I'm not." She sighed. "Obi-Wan's in charge, I just follow him around like I'm some lost, sick invalid."

"Well, that's one way of looking at it."

"You know, they pretty much just grounded me for not trusting my abilities. They all know I'm better than this."

"They do trust you. It's the whole Jedi Force field thing, you have going on. It's unpredictable." He glanced sideways at her.

"I don't have a Force field."

"You did when you were in the hospital ward. You still kind of radiate ... something. I can feel it. It's weird and I suppose they don't understand what's going on. None of us do. Anyway, it's your ideas they're running on, therefore your op."

"Still wish I was coming with you." She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I know, don't worry." He slung his arm over her shoulders and pulled her into a sideways hug, kissing her temple.

Obi-Wan called him over for his final briefing and he and Padmé were sent off, finally. As he followed Padmé out, Anakin touched Echo's hand to get her attention. She looked up in time for him to give her a wink before he disappeared into the busy station.

"I do hope he doesn't do anything stupid." sighed Obi-Wan, watching his padawan walk away with concern furrowed in his brow.

"Don't worry, Master, he will." She grinned up at him.

"I'd be more worried about her doing something than him." said Captain Typho.

"Then you obviously don't know Anakin." teased Echo, giggling. "I can give examples of his idiocy, if you like."

"I'm not going to like what I hear, am I?" the Captain frowned and turned to Obi-Wan.

"Well, that depends," he said. "How do you like your lunatics?"

"Locked up in a cage." replied Typho.

"Then no, you won't like it."

Later that day, Obi-Wan and Echo arrived in Coco Town. The diner was packed as usual.

"Good to see business is still booming." beamed Echo as they scoured the diner for any sign of Dex. She leaned across the bar and chimed a bell that was sitting there.

"Yes, I'm coming, take a seat." came the familiar robotic voice. A red and white coloured droid wheeled out from the kitchen holding a tray of food and went all the way round the counter before seeing her.

"Hey, there." Echo smiled shyly.

"Someone to see you, honey." The droid called back into the kitchen before turning to one of the tables, clearing the tray and looking back at Echo. "So good to see you again."

"Likewise." said Echo, giving Obi-Wan a confused look. He just shrugged.

"Take a seat; I'll be right with yuh." called a voice from the kitchen.

"Come on." Obi-Wan towed Echo into the last empty booth to wait for Dex.

"Obi-Wan!" bellowed the deep voice of Dexter as he arrived at their table. He hadn't seen Echo as she had his back to him.

"Hello, Dex!" Obi-Wan stood and embraced his old friend warmly. "It's been a while"

"It has, it has. But this time you bring a friend … well I'll be!"

"Hey, Uncle Dex." Echo smiled up at the Besalisk.

"Echo!" he boomed and took her up in his arms. "My little niece, you're so big now." Obi-Wan chuckled at their reunion. "So what brings yuh all the way out 'ere?"

"Well," Echo was released, offered her seat to Dex and took the dart out of her pocket. "We found this and were wondering of you could help us. I don't recognise it as being from this Star System and the markings weren't in our archives but maybe you have an idea?"

"Hmmm… I do have an idea … Echo, go help with the customers; I need to talk to your boss."

"Bu-" she started.

"Go." Dex barked at her whilst absent mindly running his deft fingers over the dart.

Echo sighed, removed her cloak and ducked behind the counter top.

"Don't say anything interesting whilst I'm gone." She called over to them.

"Echo, do as you're told." Obi-Wan grinned at her and she stuck her tongue out at him over her shoulder as she disappeared into the kitchen.

"She reminds me a lot of you, yuh know." Dex glanced up at his friend. "If I didn't know she was Alborne's daughter, I'd have guessed she was yours."

"You know you're not the first to say something like that. Apparently we're very similar." He smiled distantly. "Anyway, your idea?"

"I can see why you don't recognise it, the markings aren't common. Those droids in your archives only read symbols, this is marked with unique markings and engravings only done by hand. Each is technically unique. It's the funny little cuts on the sides 'ere that give it away."

"And Echo didn't recognise it as local so …?"

"Yes well, she's only young. Can't teach her everything in six years."

"She's wonderful, none the less."

"She is." Dex chuckled. "It's from the Star System of the Outer Rim."

"Thought it was." called Echo from the kitchen.

"Can you tell me what it is, Dex?" asked Obi-Wan, leaning in across the table.

"What you've found 'ere is a Kamino Sabre Dart. Quite deadly." he scoffed.

"Yes, well it was for our informant."

Echo walked past again with a tray muttering 'Kamino' several times under her breath. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.

"I'm not familiar with the planet. Is it in the Republic?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No, it's not." Echo reappeared at the table, sans tray and with a grubby white apron around her waist. "Outer Rim, right uncle?"

"Well, yes, but a little further out, about twelve parsecs from the Rishi Maze." He beamed.

"Shouldn't be difficult, I'll find the coordinates in the archives." said Obi-Wan.