A/N: Alright so this is a story I'm working on that adds a more fantastic twist to the SW galaxy. Its a keystone in my Clone Wars Chronicles series. Oh and if you get lost with the shapeshifter references please refer to my other work Secret of the Sands which explains a bit more.

As always I love comments and hearing everyone's opinions so if you can spare a bit of your time, please review. Thanks!

Anakin Skywalker threw aside his pack and flung himself onto the couch. He lied there for a few moments just to soak in all the silence. That's really what he needed right now, just silence and nothing more. After a few moments he sat up only to bury his face in his palms and release a sigh.
This past month had been less than great to say the very least. He couldn't even begin to get all his thoughts sorted out on this one. There was so much he couldn't even think of a place to start. All he knew was that he had lost an outpost on Kamino, never heard back from the last squadron he had dispatched, a transport had somehow just disappeared and to top it all off he was being pressured to get everything back and do it fast, preferably within the next few rotations. Yes, this could easily be considered not one of his most successful times.

Anakin decided to just close his eyes and attempt to meditate all his troubles away when the door swung open.

"Hey man, guess what? I have great news for you!"

Anakin groaned. He felt like he had zero patience left, not even for his best friend. Jesse Kit Solo hadn't changed a bit since they were ragtag kids on Tatooine calling each other "Ani" and "Kitster." His energy and attitude usually were enough to help Anakin get back on his feet after a few rough spots. But today that wasn't the case.

"Not now Jesse, I really don't -"

"But it needs to be now, Anakin," he said. "It's about your Senator. Her and what you'll be doing for the next two weeks."

The Jedi jumped to his feet as if a blaster was being pointed at his head. Right now he was hoping with everything that this wasn't another attempt of hers to draw him away from the war zone.

"What does Padmé have to do with how I'm going to be spending the next two weeks?"

"Easy. She's requested you as an escort of her's for another one of her diplomatice mission thingys. The best part if you leave tomorrow morning."

Anakin felt a wave of so many things come over him that he couldn't decide who to be angry with right away. He had to think of something good and fast.

"I can't go. The Council won't let me. I have - "

Jesse pulled out a fist full of papers from his jacket pocket and waved them in the air for the whole galaxy to see.

"Already taken care of! You have permission all filled out and ready to go. Aren't you lucky? An entire two weeks with your wife!"

By the next morning, Anakin was certain that he felt more furious than a harrassed gundart and more dangerous than a krayt dragon. Last night he got close to no sleep since he busied himself with mapping out security measures and packing his own things. He left for his mission with only one desire in mind - to finish it.

Padmé Amidala waited at the docking bay with the typical sweet smiled on her lips. Her hair was tied up simply yet elegantly for travel with her favorite person in the entire galaxy. Anakin really could never be mad at such a sweet angel. He saw her standing there and it seemed that a light from heaven above was highlighting her every feature.

"Good morning General Skywalker. It's wonderful to see you."

Anakin felt a surge of irritation rush through him. She had no idea what other things he needed to do right now. No he couldn't be mad at her, but she could irritate him.

"Likewise, Senator."

And that was the most he intended on speaking to her for a while. It wasn't until they were well on their way past the city limits of Coruscant approaching the jump to hyperspace when Padmé attempted to evoke some conversation.

"Oh Ani its going to be wonderful!"

Anakin nodded, his eyes still glued ahead into deep space.

"Is something the matter Ani?" She reached over and rubbed his shoulder. "You seem so tense."

"Did it ever occur to you that I have a lot going on right now? There's so many things that need my attention and an escort assignment was the last thing I needed.

"I only put in a request for you. I figured that if you weren't available the Council would have turned me down."

"Well they didn't. It doesn't matter now," he said.

Silence followed and Padmé drew back her hand. She fiddled with a loose strand of hair for a few moments unsure of what to do.

"I got a nice private place for us," she said.

"Uh-huh."

"First class and very sceneic."

"Uh-huh."

"I hear its lovely this time of year."

"Uh-huh."

"If you don't want to talk me because I'm just a bother now I won't say anything at all."

Padmé turned away and looked out at the swirling stars outside. She hoped that maybe Anakin would feel guilty eventually and open up, but no such luck. That was one thing about her Jedi that simply couldn't be changed. When he wanted to be stubborn, he was.

The Senator was about to drift off to sleep when she felt the first real sensation since leaving. She turned to Anakin who was now battling with the steering and using maneuvers only he knew how. Another blast rocked the ship.

"Ani what's going on?"

Anakin completed another one of his nosedive spin maneuvers before answering.

"Another reason I hate Naboo ships. If this were my starfighter we wouldn't have been this close! Looks like our company is here to stay."

"Didn't you activate the cloaking device?"

Anakin shot her a glare that made Padmé want to be quiet again for a very long time.

The Jedi turned his attention back to what he was doing with the ship. He knew that he couldn't hold this flight together for much longer. He looked ahead and as if by a miracle a small world shone up ahead like a glimmering white crystal. Obviously not Alderaan but it was something to keep their skins alive.

"There, I'm headed for there."