Chapter Three

The specs had been read, the coordinates set, and hyperdrive initiated. They were on their way.

Obi-Wan planned on using the two-day journey to the Mid-Rim planet of Lin-Hyt to relax, meditate, and organize his plans for the future; plans which were still not set. There were things he was confident about, however, and those included his feelings for a particular senator.

As Obi-Wan walked away from the bridge, leaving the navigation monitoring to his Padawan, he reached inside his utility belt, only to make sure the golden token was still there. It was, as was the uncertainty accompanying it.

Padmé had tried her best to persuade him it would work; that they would be happy together; that their time apart would only make their time together that much sweeter. He wanted to believe her; she had been quite persuasive. But Obi-Wan couldn't help worry that over time - a long, lonely time, she would begin to regret her decision and wish she had married someone else. Someone who would be there for her. Someone she didn't have to wonder if he were coming home alive or dead, or coming back home at all.

It was a difficult decision, and not one he would allow to be rushed. She had to be completely sure, and it was his responsibility to make sure she was.

Consulting the Force in situations such as this offered no real source of guidance, although that was not his intention for calling for the Force. Meditations were for typically calming his agitation, and helped him focus his thoughts. Only then would he be able to make a rational decision.

Never before had Obi-Wan had calluses on his knees that were quite this thick.

He sunk down upon them once again in the Main Hold of the T-16 cruiser they had been assigned for this mission, listening for the familiar whispers of reassurance, reaching out to touch upon its tranquil waves. He was actually near the precipice of enlightenment when an irritating sound disrupted his concentration.

If he weren't in a durasteel box traveling across the galaxy at lightspeed, he could've sworn he'd heard women's voices. And the closer he got to the weapons lockers down the corridor, the louder they got.

"Impossible," Obi-Wan uttered under his breath. It couldn't be! He wouldn't believe it unless he saw it for himself. A swipe of his hand delivering a command through the Force, opening the storage compartment and revealing what he'd been hoping he'd dreamed, as two bodies came tumbling out of the cramped space onto the grate flooring at his feet.

"Padmé?" He had to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him as well as his ears, though she seemed a bit preoccupied at the moment and hadn't even noticed him.

"Are you kidding me? What was it exactly?" the argument continued even after the two women lay sprawled across the floor.

"Nothing harmful, I swear," Dormé promised as she helped the other woman to her feet. "It was just a strong sedative, so I could get you onto the ship."

"You lied to me!" Padmé's voice was more shrill than Obi-Wan could ever remember it being. He considered stepping between the two of them, but figured Dormé probably deserved everything Padmé could dish out.

"You told me Obi-Wan wanted to meet me at the port! And the next thing I know, you've stuck something into my…my…derriere!"

"It was the most convenient delivery point at the time," Dormé meekly explained, causing her employer to glare at her slack-jawed.

"I don't want to know the details." Padmé uttered in disbelief.

Obi-Wan didn't blame her, but he had some questions of his own.

"What are you doing on this ship?"

"It's a long story…" Dormé began, although he chose to cut her off quickly. In the month he had spent in Padmé's apartment, he had gotten to know the young assistant quite well. It was never a good idea to allow her to talk for very long.

"Just make sure it's a true one," he warned, motioning for them to sit on the padded benches lining the walls back in the Main Hold.

"Yes sir," she respectfully replied as they all sat down. "It's just that I know how little time the two of you have been able to spend together lately, and I wanted to surprise you, that's all."

Padmé sat silently waiting, apparently stupefied as Obi-Wan scrubbed his face wearily.

"This wasn't a good idea."

"Why not? Anakin said there wasn't any danger."

"You spoke with my Padawan about the mission?" Obi-Wan interrupted, his irritation rising, though with his student this time.

"Not exactly. He came to say goodbye and only mentioned you were leaving! I was worried and he told me there was no reason to be."

It wasn't as bad as he'd thought, but still, there was no reason for Anakin to be speaking with his girlfriend about such matters!

"Listen," he began calmly, addressing Dormé. " When it comes to assignments such as this, the outcome is never guaranteed! The Lin and Hyt clans are volatile adversaries, fighting over the two most valuable resources available to them. There is a long history of delicate Jedi negotiations being required in order to prevent any violent conflicts. So, you see, my dear, my Padawan wasn't entirely correct."

"Oh," Dormé muttered, her eyes downcast.

Obi-Wan sympathetically gazed at Padmé who seemed to have recovered from the shock of her recovery, and was now definitely flushed with indignation.

"If you'll excuse us," he spoke to Dormé without looking at her directly, doing his best to ease Padmé's irritability. "I'd like to speak to the Senator. Anakin's in the cockpit."

Once they were alone, Obi-Wan rose to kneel in front of the angry young woman, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "I'm pleased to see you."

She did smile then, some of the color leaving her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Obi-Wan. I never meant for this to happen, I don't wish to inconvenience you in any way. If you'd prefer, you can just drop us off at the nearest space port. I'm sure we can..."

"Stop, sh," he hushed her, a finger placed lightly upon her lips. "No harm done, and no I'm not dumping you off at the next planet. However, once we get to Lyn-Hyt, you have to keep her on board."

She did smile then, a sight which never failed to warm his heart. "Even if I have to tie her up and gag her."

Rather tempting, thought Obi-Wan for more than a few seconds. "But that's a couple of days from now. What shall we do to occupy ourselves until then?"

Her smile turned sultry, the previous anger completely vanishing. "I may have a few ideas."