Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. I just created my own little AU sandbox to play in.

AN: Here's chapter 11! Thanks for all the great reviews, as always. We're moving into AoTC territory and while there may be recognizable events, things will be very different in this unique AU. But Anakin and Padme's ages are not different. Here's just a few important ages for reference though:

Anakin-19

Padme-24

Sabe-28

Obi-Wan-35

Ahsoka-13

Quinlan-37

Sifo-Dyas-late sixties

Force Jumper

Chapter 11: Masked Savior

Obi-Wan and his young padawan were silent, as they rode Republica 500's turbo lift to Senator Amidala's apartment. They had just returned from a mission to Ansion with Luminara Unduli and her padawan Barriss Offee, but found there would be no leave granted in between missions this time. They had been charged with the protection of Naboo's senator, whom had already escape three assassination attempts. Though his feisty padawan was silent, a true rarity, he could tell that she was less than thrilled by this assignment.

"You're certainly quiet. As much as I thought that would be a nice change for once, I'm finding it a bit unnerving," Obi-Wan joked.

"Very funny, Master," Ahsoka retorted.

"There is no assignment that is beneath a Jedi," Obi-Wan reminded.

"It's not that really, not at all. I just think that our skills are more useful out in the field. Not babysitting some spoiled Senator," Ahsoka griped.

"Oh, I don't know, I think I'm going to enjoy not being on the move so much for once, my adrenaline addicted padawan," Obi-Wan teased. Ahsoka rolled her eyes. It was true. She did prefer action as opposed to what she considered boring assignments like this one. They were one of the best teams that the Jedi had, in her opinion, but they had been assigned to protection duty. It made little sense to her. She knew a Jedi should not crave battle, but she much preferred using her physical skills, as opposed to security detail or negotiations. Her Master was the opposite.

"Senator Amidala is a friend and with all the blaster bolts that have been flying at her lately, I have a feeling that this mission will be anything but boring," Obi-Wan assured her. He, however, had no idea how right he would be.

Anakin checked their position and switched back to autopilot, as he went back into the cabin.

"We're only an hour out now," he announced.

"Good. I know that you're eager to tackle Coruscant, but you have to be careful. The less jumping you do there, the better," Quinlan warned. Anakin nodded.

"I have a plan for that," Anakin replied. Quinlan rolled his eyes.

"Oh great, I can't wait to hear this," Quinlan quipped. Anakin smirked.

"I can't jump, at least not until I acquire some good jump sites and even then, I want to avoid if possible, cause I don't want Windu on my trail. But I still need to get around fast, so I built this," Anakin said, as he revealed a flat board looking device with thrusters on the back.

"I know I'm going to regret this, but what exactly is that," Quinlan asked, pointing at the

invention. Sifo-Dyas chuckled.

"It's a hover board with Mach two power thrusters. Even if I can't jump, no one is going to catch me on this thing," Anakin replied confidently.

"Yeah, because you're going to splatter yourself on the side of a building," Quinlan remarked. Anakin chuckled, knowing he was joking…mostly.

"Your lack of confidence in me is hurtful, Master," he mocked, teasing back.

"I have confidence in you…confidence that you're bloody insane," Quinlan mocked back.

"I'll be safe, don't worry. My feet will be strapped in and it goes whatever direction I make it go," Anakin replied simply. Quinlan shook his head.

"If you say so, kid," Quinlan replied, patting his shoulder.

"I can make one for you too, Master," Anakin teased, with a devious grin.

"There's no way in seven Sith hells you're getting me on one of those things," Quinlan called, as he made his way to his quarters, leaving Sifo and Anakin chuckling in amusement.

Obi-Wan and Ahsoka bowed respectively before Amidala, as they were invited into her apartment by Dorme.

"Master Kenobi, it's good to see you again," Padme said pleasantly.

"You as well, Senator. I want to assure you that Ahsoka and I will discover who is behind this and bring them to justice," Obi-Wan said. At the mention of his apprentice, Padme felt a pang in her heart for the little boy that had been rejected years ago. She had never forgotten Anakin and she never could. She regretted not being able to use any of her personal funds during her time as Queen to free the boy's mother. But in her time as Queen, she had nothing personal. As a democratically elected Queen, she had belonged solely to her people during her two tenures. But she had sent out informants to look for him, but when they had returned to tell her that there was no trace of the boy or his mother on Tatooine, she had been saddened. Her first worry was that some terrible fate had befallen him and his mother. And that had struck a chord of disapproval within her that she hid well. Never would she have ever questioned the valued, yet mysterious servants of the Republic before, but their rejection and condemnation of an innocent little boy had not set with her well at all. Only Sabe knew of her frustration. Padme hoped with all her heart that her darker thoughts were wrong and that Anakin and his mother had found a way out of that life.

"This is my padawan, Ahsoka Tano," Obi-Wan introduced, bringing her back from her innermost thoughts. The young Togrutan female bowed respectfully.

"It's nice to meet you, Ahsoka. Feel free to make yourself comfortable while you're here," Padme encouraged. Ahsoka simply nodded.

"If you'll follow me, I'll show you the security detail I have designed," Captain Typho spoke, getting right down to business. Obi-Wan nodded and bowed to Padme and her handmaidens.

"Excuse us milady," he said simply, as they left with Captain Typho.

As Anakin stepped onto the permacrete, he opened himself to the Force and didn't like what he felt. On Yavin IV and many other places, feeling the Force was an effortless and as natural as breathing to him. But it felt very different on Coruscant.

"Told you, deader than a door panel," Quinlan said, smirking behind him.

"I can feel the Force, but it's so…" Anakin replied, trying to find the words.

"Clouded," Sifo-Dyas said.

"Yeah," Anakin agreed.

"This is what we were warning about. It will be harder to read the Force's beckon here. Only your complete concentration and focus will help and even then, you must be very cautious," Sifo-Dyas warned. Anakin nodded. He was listening to his Master, but he couldn't help but focus his thoughts solely on Padme. He couldn't believe that after all these years that he was finally going to see her again. His heart was pounding just at the thought of her beautiful face. How in the world was he actually going to react when he came face to face with the woman he knew he loved? He wondered idly.

"Focus," Quinlan said knowingly. Anakin took a deep breath and nodded. His Master was right. Padme's life was in danger and her plight deserved his complete attention.

"Let's find our hotel. I managed to find one that is not disgusting in CoCo town. There's a diner that Qui-Gon used to frequent with his old Master that has good food too," Sifo-Dyas said. As he said that, Anakin's stomach growled. Quinlan shook his head.

"Right on cue," Quinlan chuckled, as they went to rent a speeder.

Padme huffed in annoyance, as she glanced at the security camera that had been installed in her room.

"I can't believe this!" Padme hissed, as she stalked around in agitation. She was going crazy with her every move being watched.

"Calm down, you know this is for your own protection," Sabe tried to console her.

"I'm in my own bedroom and they're watching me. I hate this," Padme complained.

"Relax. Just go about your business as if the camera isn't here. When you get ready to change for bed, we'll cover the camera briefly," Sabe promised. It was of little comfort to her.

"Calm down and come eat. Dinner should be done soon. Dorme made all your favorites," Sabe tempted.

"There better be dessert," Padme grumbled. Sabe chuckled.

"Chocolate covered shurra," Sabe promised. Padme rolled her eyes.

"Fine," Padme relented, as she followed her best friend out.

"Well, bless my soul! Is that really the famous Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas waltzin' into my little diner?" a large alien with several arms asked.

"Hello Dex, it's been a long time," Sifo-Dyas replied, as he returned the hug the large alien gave him.

"I haven't seen you in ages! I know you don't favor the capital world, but it's about damn time you made your way back here!" Dex replied.

"Yes, since I left the Jedi, though unofficially, I haven't had much reason to come back here. But since I am, I knew I had to treat the boys to one of your specials. You remember Quinlan?" Sifo asked. Dex nodded.

"Course I do. I see you're doing well indeed, but who is this strapping lad?" he asked, referring to Anakin.

"Anakin Skywalker, sir," Anakin introduced himself politely.

"Anakin," Dex said, as he shook the young man's hand.

"That name sure sounds familiar for some reason," Dex replied. Sifo nodded.

"It should. This is the boy that Qui-Gon wanted to train and would have, had he not perished," Sifo-Dyas said.

"That's it. It's an honor to meet you, young one. Qui-Gon Jinn and Sifo-Dyas don't deem just anyone worthy enough to train. The Jedi were fools to turn you away," Dex replied.

"That's kind of you to say, Sir," Anakin responded.

"Call me Dex, my boy. You look like one that's hard to keep full, but one of Dex's specials will do it. Take a seat boys and I'll have you taken care of," Dex said, as he shuffled back behind the counter.

"Good to know that some things never change," Quinlan replied, as he eased into the booth.

"He knew Master Qui-Gon?" Anakin asked curiously. Sifo-Dyas smiled.

"Oh yes, he frequented here every chance he got. But Dex isn't just your average diner owner. He's been all over the galaxy. He was in, shall we say, some more risky professions before he settled into an honest life," Sifo-Dyas said.

"If there's anything you need information on, Dex is the person to ask," Quinlan added. Anakin looked back at the large alien. He would definitely keep that in mind in the future.

Ahsoka sighed in annoyance, as she kept guard outside the Senator's bedroom. Obi-Wan was just returning from making the rounds, checking all aspects of the security detail designed by Captain Typho.

"Master, she covered the cameras. I agreed to let her do so while she changed, but she was supposed to uncover them after she went to bed," Ahsoka complained.

"The Senator is a stubborn one and I will speak with her about this in the morning. But you must focus. Your senses should be able to tell you if there is danger. Anything you see happening with your eyes will already be too late," Obi-Wan instructed. Ahsoka sobered, realizing that her frustration had clouded her thoughts.

"I'm sorry Master, but I can sense everything going on in that room," Ahsoka boasted.

Obi-Wan was about to retort, seeing a good opportunity for a lesson. But they both felt the sudden eeriness in the Force that was now coming from the Senator's room.

"Master," Ahsoka said in alarm.

"I feel it too," Obi-Wan replied, as they rushed to the door…

Meanwhile…

After tossing and turning for nearly an hour, Padme had finally started to fall asleep. She thought it was going to be impossible given the fact that her thoughts refused to quiet. Pure exhaustion was finally taking over, when she heard a noise…

Zam Wessel slowly and expertly cut a perfect circle in the glass of the Senator's bedroom window. She smirked, as she gazed at the cylinder container that held two poisonous kouhuns. This was going to be the easiest bounty she ever collected. She pressed the container up to the glass opening and prepared to release.

"You release those in her room and you're a dead woman," a rich tenor voice laced with malice hissed. She looked up, seeing a cloaked figure on the ledge. There was no speeder around other than hers, so she was baffled as to how he had gotten up this high on his own. She smirked deviously and opened the container, allowing the creatures to fall into the room.

"That was your last mistake," he hissed.

"You'll have to catch me first," she replied, as she hopped in her speeder and flew off. He growled and wanted to go after her. But he wasn't about to trust the Jedi to actually save her for him. He Force jumped inside her room and his hood dropped. He spotted the creatures crawling up onto her bed and ignited his blazing sapphire blade. With swift precision, he killed both. Startled by the sounds and movement, Padme sat up quickly, looking around in confusion and trying to determine what had happened. That's when her eyes locked with the sapphire ones that seemed to glow behind a strange eye mask that the imposing figure wore.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you," he promised. She took a startled breath and saw the remains of the charred creatures on her bedspread. Whatever they were, she guessed that their bite was probably fatal.

"You…you saved me?" she asked. He nodded simply, as the two Jedi came bursting into her room, drawing their weapons.

"Who are you?" Obi-Wan demanded.

"Don't! He saved my life!" Padme pleaded.

"Poisonous kouhuns, Master," Ahsoka said, pointing at the charred insects.

"You didn't answer my question. Who are you and how did you get in here?" Obi-Wan demanded. The dark, handsome stranger simply smirked.

"I'm not your enemy, fool. Some Jedi protection! You would have been too late to stop one of those things from biting her. The assassin is getting away!" he hissed. As he said that, Zam Wessel was spotted speeding away from the scene. To everyone's shock, Obi-Wan went crashing through the window and went with her, hanging precariously from the vehicle.

"Of all the idiotic…" the man hissed.

"Hey, that's my Master!" Ahsoka protested.

"He's going to get himself killed. Go get a speeder and follow him," he snapped back.

"I don't take orders from you!" Ahsoka hissed back. Anakin scoffed.

"Do as you please then. If he's lucky, maybe I'll get to him in time. I'm only interested in catching the assassin," he spat, as he unhooked the hover board from his back and tossed it to the floor, before hopping on. His feet were strapped into place and he spared another glance toward Padme, who seemed absolutely entranced by him.

"What in blazing Sith hell is going on in here?" Sabe roared, as she stumbled sleepily into the room.

"Your Jedi protection was sleeping on the job, but the danger has been averted for now. Stay with her. I'm going after the assassin," the stranger said simply, as he went flying out the broken window at inhuman speeds.

Padme exhaled the breath she had been holding, as Sabe rushed to her side.

"Are you all right?" she fretted. Padme nodded.

"He saved me. He moved so fast," Padme replied in awe.

"He is not to be trusted. I'm going after my Master," Ahsoka called, as she ran out of the room.

"But who is he?" Sabe asked.

"I…I don't know," Padme replied, wanting nothing more than the answer to that question. But she didn't agree with the young padawan's assessment at all. Something inside her told her that he was the one to place her trust in.

Zam Wessel swerved in and out of oncoming traffic, desperate to lose the Jedi hanging from her speeder. Despite her wild piloting, he remained and was starting to climb up onto the speeder. Taking aim with her blaster, she clipped his hand, sending him falling to the depths below. Satisfied with that, she turned her full attention back to controlling the vehicle to make her escape. She had failed and her partner would be none too happy.

For a brief moment, Obi-Wan thought that this might be his end and he cursed his foolishness. Crashing through that window had not been the best idea. Suddenly, something grabbed his arm and he found himself flailing along behind the stranger who they had found in the Senator's room. He was silent and simply tossed him into a speeder that was suddenly beside him.

"She's all I care about. Don't fail to protect her again," the young man hissed, as he pursued the bounty hunter.

"Follow him," Obi-Wan ordered his padawan and she complied.

Zam parked her speeder and prepared to slip into a club to blend in while those Jedi fools ran circles. There were too many people in these places and she would easily lose them. Suddenly, the man that had appeared outside the Senator's apartment on the ledge was in front of her.

"What the…" she uttered, stumbling away from him. Where had he come from?

"I told you that trying to hurt her was the last thing you would do, but I'm ready to be merciful if you'll just tell me who you're working for," Anakin demanded. His masked appearance and stunningly sleek armor made him stand out and he was slowly drawing a crowd, especially when he ignited a brilliant sapphire blade. It was glaringly obvious that he was no Jedi. He paid them no mind, for he and his Masters had anticipated this attention. She snarled at him and threw a punch, which he caught with ease. She cried out, as he slammed her onto the ground and clutched her throat, holding his humming blade to her jugular.

"Tell me now," he growled. Fear washed over her features and she struggled to no avail.

"It was…" her voice stopped, as she felt a sharp pain her neck and then blackness overcame her. Anakin's eyes widened, as he saw the poison dart in her neck.

"Jango?" he whispered, recognizing the barb. His head shot up just in time to see him rocket off through the sky. If Jango was involved in this...then Padme was still in danger.

"What in blazes did you do?" Obi-Wan asked, as he and Ahsoka arrived.

"Another bounty hunter killed her before she could tell me who she was working for. You two are far too slow to be of any use to me," the stranger said, astonishing everyone to the core, as he disappeared right before their eyes.

"Wha…how did he do that?" Ahsoka asked. Obi-Wan was equally surprised.

"I…I have no idea," he replied.

"Come on, you need to settle down and go back to sleep. I'll make you some tea," Sabe said, as she left the room.

"How could I possibly go to sleep after all that?" Padme wondered aloud.

"You won't have to worry about that. I'm about to put you to sleep…permanently," a male voice said. This one was much deeper than the stranger early. Padme gasped and jumped away from the bed, as he pointed his blaster at her with perfect aim.

"It's nothing personal, Senator. Your death is worth a lot of money and that's my business," the armored man said with an unfeeling voice.

"Help me!" Padme screamed, hoping her friends would hear. But he fired and Padme clenched her eyes shut, knowing she was going to die. She felt a whoosh of air and opened her eyes, finding someone standing in front of her. And she quickly realized that it was him!

"Well, this just got more interesting," Jango said, recognizing his young friend, but he wouldn't reveal that. He was actually impressed that the young Force jumper had taken his advice and fashioned himself some armor. The blaster bolt had barely scratched the chest plate and he instantly wondered where the kid had gotten such material.

"I won't let you kill her," he stated. Jango quirked an eyebrow underneath his mask.

"Really? That's a bold statement. I hope you realize what you're getting yourself into. I'm not someone you want to have after you," Jango warned.

"I can handle you. I'm the one you should worry about, because I won't rest until the people that have hired you and all the other bounty hunters to kill her is dead," Anakin warned back, feeling the stab of betrayal. He realized that his brief friendship with Fett had just come to an end, but it didn't really matter. He would gladly trade him for Padme. Sabe gasped, as she returned and watched the exchange from the doorway. Fett chuckled.

"All right, this might be fun. I'll take your challenge. You win tonight, but I hope you're ready, because the real battle is yet to come," Fett warned, as he dashed out of the open window. Padme let out a breath in relief.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his harsh voice softening to a tender tone that made her shiver in delight.

"Thanks to you…again. Who…are you?" she asked. He sighed.

"I'm afraid that I can't tell you that yet. It would only put you in more danger at this point," he replied. He really wanted to tear his mask off and tell her everything, but he knew that the time wasn't right.

"Just know that as long as I'm around, no harm will come to you," he promised, as he slowly back toward the window, while stepping onto his hover board.

"Wait!" she called, as she grabbed his hand.

"What do I call you?" he asked. He froze and realized that he hadn't come up with a pseudo name to go along with the disguise.

"I'm…not sure. Just know that I'll be there when you need me," he promised. Then she stunned him and herself by her out of character boldness and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you…for saving my life," she said, staring into the blue eyes behind the mask. Once he remembered how to breathe, he nodded slowly, before taking off on his hover board and out of sight…

In the next chapter, the Holonet explodes with talk of this masked savior responsible of thwarting the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. The Jedi are just as interested to know who this light saber wielding vigilante is and Mace Windu does his best to deceive his fellow Jedi that he is just as clueless about his identity. Secretly, he warns his Xal'Kaar followers that they must tread lightly in their pursuit to keep their group a secret. And Padme is enamored with her mysterious savior, much to Sabe's amusement. All this and more, coming soon in chapter 12!