Disclaimer: I don't own SW, Disney does (unfortunately, as they created the abomination that is the Sequels-Go Luke! You would never try and kill your nephew or run away to sulk and abandon your family in their time of need!)

Posted 4-11-2023

This is the start of the Attack of the Clones Arc. Read, enjoy and review!

Chapter One

Meeting Amidala

Nineteen-year-old Leia followed her Jaieh into the Council chambers, feeding her tiredness into the Force as she did so. They were being summoned for another mission, although they had only returned from Ansion two days ago, and both of them had been Requested yesterday. Her body was still aching from the Chancellor's 'attentions', and she hadn't had a chance to meditate properly to come to terms with what had happened and release the emotions his Request had stirred up in her.

Still, the Senate had called, and the Jedi knew it was too dangerous for them all not to answer. Since Palpatine had been voted in as Chancellor, things had only gotten worse for the Jedi. He had reduced the amount of heating they were given, as it was 'too expensive', and he took any excuse to punish them by withholding food and medical supplies.

And, only three years ago, he had lowered the age for Marking, declaring that every Padawan, on being Chosen as an apprentice, was to be Marked. And then he had ordered that every Initiate was to be Chosen as a Padawan by thirteen, no exceptions, meaning they couldn't push back the age of Choosing to try and counter it. It caused no end to the Jedis' despair, and the Order's suicide rate, already high, had jumped again when it happened.

Leia was jolted from her grim thoughts by her Master's hand on her shoulder. She glanced at him and gave a weak smile as he sent a wave of safetyloveprotectionwarmth at her. It made her sigh and nod, returning the feeling of love before she forced herself to release her emotions into the Force. Obi-Wan nodded at her in approval, before he turned to the doors leading to the Council Chamber and sent a nudge towards Jaieh Mace Windu and Tonjaieh Yoda, who the Jaieh-Padawan pair could sense within, alerting them to their presence. The pair sent an acknowledgement back, and silently urged them to enter.

The doors opened, seemingly by themselves, and Obi-Wan led Leia inside, where they found the leaders of the Order sitting in their beanbag chairs, silently speaking through the Force, though in reality you couldn't send words as such through the Force to another, unless you had a particularly strong Force Bond, such as Obi-Wan and Leia's training bond. Without a strong bond, you just sent images and feelings to each other.

"Jehxah Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker," Jaieh Windu, an outwardly stoic man who was warm and kind in the Force, greeted them with a grim expression and a nod as they bowed respectfully. "Apologies for interrupting your rest from the Ansion mission, but the two of you were specifically chosen by the Chancellor for this mission."

Leia suppressed her instinctual shudder at the thought of Chancellor Palpatine. He had requested her practically the moment she was Marked, and even before that he'd had no qualms about being 'friendly' with her, often 'accidentally' touching her inappropriately. Every time she was in his presence she had to fight the urge to throw up, and often only managed to hold it off until she left the office.

The Senators of the Delegation of the 2000, who were all fierce opponents of the Request system and determined allies of the Jedi, were well used to her rushing into their personal bathrooms to vomit before she cleaned and patched herself up so she could return to the Temple with a bit of dignity intact. In fact, they kept a medikit in their washrooms just for the Jedi, and some of them even kept spare robes there.

It had taken years for the Jedi to begin to trust the group Senator Organa had built, but they had proved themselves over and over again as friends of the Jedi, and the Order was in no shape to turn down aid.

"Of course, Jaieh," Obi-Wan murmured with another bow that Leia copied as she again released her emotions into the Force.

She really needed to meditate.

"How may we serve His Excellency?" Obi-Wan continued.

"Aware, are you, that blown up, was Senator Amidala's ship this morning?" Tonjaieh Yoda inquired. "Killed, one of her handmaidens was, but survived the Senator did."

"The Force was with her then," Obi-Wan replied calmly, though Leia was sure she was not the only one who felt his alarm at the news that the Senator was attacked. "I take it we are to guard her?"

"Indeed," Yoda confirmed. "Believes, the Senator does, that behind the attempt Lady Ventress is."

Asajj Ventress was Countess of Serenno, (though nobody understood quite how she had come to rule the planet, and the sudden death of Countess Jenza and her son just before she showed up was incredibly suspicious) and leader of the Separatist movement.

"I see," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully. "Padawan, what are your opinions of this? Why would Lady Ventress target the Senator in this way?"

The three men looked expectantly at Leia, who was unsurprised by the question. Her Jaieh often asked for her assessment now that she was a Senior Padawan, near to her Trials.

She had her answer already prepared. "Senator Amidala is one of the Leaders of the Opposition, and the figurehead of the Anti-MCA group," Leia stated. "An important political figure. If she were killed, it would destabilize the Anti-MCA group and the Opposition, and cause many of the Anti-MCAs whose allegiance is wavering to switch sides, giving the Pro-MCA group the advantage. If Ventress claimed responsibility for the assassination, the Senate would surely vote in favour of the MCA, and declare war. As there is no Republican army and there is a CIS one due to the Trade Federation joining them, she would have the advantage in the War, and be able to conquer at least a dozen strategically important worlds without a fight beyond what home militias can put up before the Republic could gather and train a strong enough army to fight her."

Obi-Wan dipped his head in acceptance of her argument, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips, and he along with the two leaders of the Order all sent feelings of pridelovewarmth to her at her thoughtful and shrewd answer.

"You are quite correct, Padawan," Jaieh Windu said aloud. "You are on the road to becoming a great Jehxah. The Chancellor also recognizes what a danger Amidala's death would pose, and so he decided to have the Jedi guard her. You two were chosen as the two of you have already met and know the Senator."

"We will go now," Obi-Wan declared.

"And may the Force go with you," Yoda replied with a ducking of his small head. Jaieh Windu too nodded and gave his blessing as the Jaieh-Padawan pair bowed deeply in respect to their leaders before hurrying off to grab their mission packs.

Padme Amidala was one of the good Senators, the group led by Senator Organa that fought to abolish the Request system and only ever 'Requested' a Jedi to let them rest, and often to insist on them eating a full meal. Nobody had wanted to tell the good Senator that the food she gave them was too fine and rich, not to mention that there was just plain too much of it, for them, and they often ended up throwing it up, but she'd found out when that exact thing had happened too quickly to hide, apologised to them all and ever since only gave the Jedi lighter dishes, tailored towards starvation diets for their species. She was a good woman.

It was no wonder Jaieh Obi-Wan was in love with her, Leia mused to herself. At least, that was what she felt from him whenever the topic of Padmé Amidala came up.

Jedi were not forbidden from having romantic relationships, indeed, so long as they could put the greater good ahead of their beloved, it was encouraged, as it gave them someone to anchor them in the Light. But they kept quiet about their relationships, which were mostly with other Order members, so the Senate couldn't use their lovers against them. Leia only knew of one other Jedi who had lovers from outside the Order, and that was Jaieh Ki-Adi-Mundi, whose race was in danger of extinction. In general, Jedi didn't trust Force-Nulls. They served them, but they rarely, if ever, let them see behind their masks of serene implacability. Having a relationship with one, especially a Senator, seemed mad.

Leia prayed to the Force to guide her beloved guardian in making the right choice for himself and the Jedi, feeling the ancient energy curl around her lovingly in response and reassurance.

They arrived at the Senator's apartments and were greeted by a handmaiden they recognized as Sabé, who had played decoy for Amidala during the Blockade Crisis and two Nubian security guards.

"Welcome, Master Jedi, Padawan," Sabé smiled at them, though Leia could sense her worry and grief. "Please, leave your bags here and follow me. The cleaning droid will take the bags to your room. Are you certain you only need one? We can provide a second."

"Greetings, Lady Sabé," Jaieh Obi-Wan replied as he and Leia stowed their bags on the offered table. "It's likely that one of us will be on guard duty while the other rests, so only one bedroom is needed, but thank you for the offer."

"If you're certain," Sabé murmured, before gesturing for them to follow her. "The Senator is in here. And please, call me Sabé, no need for that 'Lady' fuss."

Leia glanced at her teacher discreetly as she felt him brace himself. She knew, because he'd never hidden it from her, that he'd fallen for Padmé Amidala when she was a young Queen and he a Senior Padawan, during the Naboo Blockade Crisis, and his love had increased each time she proposed or opposed a bill to try and protect the Jedi, as well as when it was discovered that she was Requesting Jedi only to protect and feed them, as well as slip them food, medical supplies and other necessities to smuggle back to the Temple.

This, however, would be the first time he met her face to face since Naboo.

Leia sent a feeling of reassurancecomfortlovewarmthstrength to her Jaieh through the Force, and he stroked her Force presence lovingly in reply, not looking at her. The Jedi knew how to hide their true selves well.

Sabé led them into a foyer, just as a Gungan was exiting. He stopped in surprise and stared at Obi-Wan for a moment, before beginning to bounce and clap in excitement. "Obi! Obi! It'sa yousa?! Mesa sooo smilen to be seein yousa. Wahooooo!"

Jaieh Obi-Wan gave a gentle smile and bowed respectfully to the Gungan Senator, Leia copying the action.

"It's good to see you too, Jar Jar," Jaieh Obi-Wan said warmly as he straightened. "You remember my apprentice, Leia Skywalker."

"Noooo! Leia? Leedle Leia? Yousa bein so biggen!" Jar Jar declared happily, toddling over to embrace them both. "Yousa be comin dis way! The Senator is bein in here!" He led the way into the living room, Sabé following him with an amused, and fondly exasperated smile for the Gungan's antics as Jar Jar continued to exclaim over how big Leia had gotten.

(Although she felt he was exaggerating, as she remained rather delicate, the malnutrition she'd suffered from the first nine years of her life, and the small portions Jedi received, combined with her active lifestyle having kept her slim and short.)

It had been a long time since she had met Amidala, indeed Leia barely remembered her beyond the vague memory of her, disguised as a handmaiden, giving her a thick blanket when space was too cold. Most of her memory of those days was overshadowed by the sudden move from Tattooine to the Temple, the Battle for Naboo and loss of her mother, so she discreetly studied the woman with interest as she entered at her Jaieh's heels, both of them falling smoothly into bows for their superior.

Amidala was a pretty woman, with long curly dark hair, olive skin, delicate features and deep brown eyes full of kindness. When the Jedi bowed submissively to her, she winced subtly, so subtly Leia wouldn't have caught it if she wasn't studying her so intently. She was elaborately dressed, as was typical for the people of Naboo, in dark purple robes, her hair caught up in some strange hair piece that held it in a cone-like style. Her Force presence was kind and warm, though Leia had worked long and hard to keep herself from automatically using her unusually strong empathy on people without conscious effort and so she couldn't tell what exactly the woman felt about the Jedi.

Leia could understand why she had attracted Jaieh Obi-Wan, and why the Jedi she helped were so fond of her. She was a rare breed, that of a genuinely good Senator. Leia could count how many truly good Senators she had met on one hand, and still have fingers left over.

Despite Amidala's good nature, the Jedi knew better than to risk ignoring protocol, and so they waited for her to grant them permission to rise from their obeisance. Some Senators, like Orn Free Taa, would have the Jedi wait in their bows until they started to shake (something that, due to their training, took a long time-so long that the Jedi in question often pretended to start shaking after a while, just to end that particular torment and get the main event over with sooner). Others, like Bail Organa, barely let them bow before urging them to rise. Senator Amidala was quick to prove herself a member of the Abolitionists, and Leia was only half-bowed when she urged them to rise.

"Please, there is no need for that," Amidala said quickly. "You are too dear to my heart, Master Kenobi, to bow to me, and the same goes for your apprentice. Rise, please."

The two Jedi straightened and Amidala smiled in relief. "It has been far too long, Master Kenobi," she declared, meeting his gaze with a warm smile. "I'm so glad to have the excuse to meet you again. But I must warn you, I feel your presence here is unnecessary."

"It is a pleasure indeed, milady," he replied mildly. "As for our presence here, I'm sure the Chancellor has his reasons for his desire for us to protect you."

The Senator sighed a bit irritably and Leia and Obi-Wan winced in unison, Obi-Wan automatically shifting to stand between his apprentice and the Senator. Amidala looked guilty at their reactions, giving them an apologetic look.

"Forgive me, please," she sighed. "I understand you're under orders. Master Kenobi, would you reintroduce me to your Padawan? It's been such a long time."

"Of course, milady," Jaieh Obi-Wan smiled, though Leia knew it didn't reach his eyes.

He loved Padmé Naberrie, but that didn't mean he trusted Senator Amidala. Their people had suffered too much at the hands of the Senators to trust them easily. He had known and admired and fallen in love with Queen Amidala, but that was ten years ago. Who knew how she had changed over the last decade?

"This is Leia Skywalker, she/her," Jaieh Obi-Wan introduced, gesturing at Leia, who gave another bow. "Leia, you remember Senator Amidala of Naboo."

"I am honoured, Senator," Leia chanted instinctively. She was surprised to realize it was true. The Force whispered to her that Amidala was one of the good ones. She smiled slightly, allowing her expression of serene implacability to lower and show her sincerity for a moment before restoring it.

The dark-haired Senator smiled back widely. "My goodness, Leia. You've grown up so much. I'm so glad to see you again. Are you enjoying your Padawanship?"

"This is where the Force willed me to be," Leia replied. "I am honoured to have Its' blessing."

The Senator nodded politely. "Follow me," she urged, ushering them to the sitting area. "Sabé, would you get some tea?"

They sat down, and Sabé served them pre-prepared tea and biscuits. Leia was oddly unsettled at being served, instead of serving, and she could sense her guardian's unease with it too.

"Our presence will be invisible, milady, I assure you," Jaieh Obi-Wan promised the Senator at last, breaking the silence.

"I'm very grateful you're here, Master Kenobi," one of Senator Amidala's guards stated. "I'm Captain Typho, head of the Senator's security. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers," the Senator huffed in frustration. "I want to know who is trying to kill me."

The two Jedi exchanged silent thoughts through their bond.

"We're here to protect you Senator, not to start an investigation," Jaieh Obi-Wan reminded the Senator gently.

"If we can capture the assassin, we will learn who is targeting you and why," Leia added.

"Then I hope you do so soon," the Senator sighed. "Because I fear for the fate of the MCA if we can't find and stop whoever is after me."

"The Force will provide," Leia said confidently, giving the Senator a confident expression. "It always does."

"Indeed," Jaieh Obi-Wan agreed.

Dai Bendu Translations:
Jaieh: Master
Tonjaieh: Grandmaster
Jehxah: Jedi Knight
Eno Dai veshah keelel mellu im tamah foh veshah keelel: May the Force be with you