A Forbidden Kiss/Discovery on Kamino

Thanks to Sage1988 and Fredo942 for favouriting and following this story.

Obi-Wan and Tey walked through the Jedi Temple's hangar bay, where the Order's fleet of Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighters were maintained. "It appears someone doesn't want us to know about this Kamino system." Obi-Wan remarked.

"Which means there's something happening in that system that we should know about." Tey replied.

"Tey, do you think a Jedi could've erased those files?" Obi-Wan asked her.

"It's the only explanation." Tey replied as they approached two fighters that had been prepared for them at the end of the hangar. "As Master Yoda said, only a Jedi would have that kind of access, and a high-ranking Jedi Master at that. I hope he can find out who was responsible. If someone could erase an entire planet from the Archives, I dread to think what else could've been altered."

"You know, I'm still concerned for my Padawan." Obi-Wan remarked.

"I thought we'd been over this." Tey rolled her eyes.

"He still has much to learn." Obi-Wan persisted. "I realise now what Master Windu and Master Yoda knew from the beginning. Anakin was too old to start his training."

"He was younger than you were when you became a Padawan." Tey reminded.

"That was different." Obi-Wan replied. "I'd had all those years being trained by Yoda before Qui-Gon took me as his apprentice. Anakin hadn't received any training in the disciplines of the Jedi before Qui-Gon found him on Tatooine. We shouldn't have been given this assignment." he sighed. "I fear Anakin will not be able to protect the Senator."

"Because of his emotional connection to her?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "It's been there since he was a boy. Now he's confused... distracted. You saw it for yourself."

"Hmm, you know, he reminded me of how you were with the Duchess of Mandalore." Tey commented. "You two got pretty emotionally connected, as I recall."

"That was different." Obi-Wan blushed.

"Obi-Wan, have faith that Anakin will chose the right path." Tey told him calmly. "Anyway, you're forgetting that Livia's with him. If Anakin has any trouble staying professional, then I'm sure Livia will be more than capable of stepping in."

"I suppose you're right." Obi-Wan conceded. "Yes, I guess I do worry too much."

"You're a good master, Obi-Wan." Tey assured him. "Now, c'mon, let's see if we can find this missing planet of ours."

The two Jedi climbed into the cockpits of their waiting starfighters and the two craft took off from Coruscant. Upon leaving the planet's atmosphere, the fighters docked with a pair of waiting hyperdrive docking rings and zoomed off into lightspeed, destination: Kamino.

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia had travelled by water speeder to a lodge in Naboo's lake country. Upon mooring at a jetty by the lodge's terrace, the trio disembarked. "Right, I'd bet get the bags inside." Livia said as she gathered up Padme's luggage and headed for the lodge with it.

Anakin and Padme made their way onto the terrace and stopped at the balustrade. "When I was in Level Three, we used to come here for school retreat." Padme said, looking out across the shimming lake to the mountains rising beyond. "We would swim to that island every day. I love the water."

"I do too." Anakin replied. "I guess it comes from growing up on a desert planet."

"We used to lie out on the sand and let the sun dry us," Padme continued, "and try to guess the names of the birds singing."

"I don't like sand." Anakin admitted. "It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here, everything's soft... and smooth." He raised a hand up and gently caressed Padme's exposed back while looking at her longingly.

This time, Padme didn't seem to mind how he was looking at her. "There was a very old man who lived out on the island." she continued. "He used to make glass out of sand- and vases and necklaces out of the glass. They were magical."

"Everything here is magical." Anakin said.

"You could look into the glass and see the water. The way it ripples and moves. It looked so real... but it wasn't."

"Sometimes, when you believe something to be real, it becomes real. Real enough, anyway."

They looked deeply into each other's eyes. "I used to think if you looked too deeply into the glass, you would lose yourself."

"I think it's true."

Then it happened. Anakin and Padme began to lean closer to each other, and their lips made contact. The kiss lasted for about a second, then Padme came to her senses. "No." she burst out as she backed off. "I shouldn't have done that."

"I'm sorry." Anakin breathed as Padme turned on her heel and headed for the lodge.

~8~

Livia was just unpacking Padme's suitcase when the Senator joined her. "Everything alright, Padme?" Livia asked her.

"Yes, fine." Padme replied hastily, not wanting to reveal what had just happened. "So, I trust the accommodation meets with your approval?"

"Yes, we should be fine here." Livia said. "We're off the beaten track, but we've got enough of a view to know in advance if anything's coming." She then hung one of Padme's dresses in the wardrobe. "Ya know, Padme, I know I shouldn't say this, but sometimes I envy you Senators. You always have the best fashions."

"One of the perks of office." Padme replied. "Tell ya what, you can wear one of these for dinner tonight, if you like."

"Oh, no. I couldn't." Livia said politely. "It wouldn't be right. I mean, thank you all the same, but..."

"Livia, I promise I won't tell your master." Padme said coyly. "There are times when even a Jedi must dress for the occasion. Now, I think I know which dress would suit you best..."

~8~

Obi-Wan and Tey's Jedi starfighters dropped out of hyperspace and detached from their docking rings. Ahead of them was a stormy blue ocean planet. "There it is, Tey, right where it should be." Obi-Wan said into his headset. "Our missing planet, Kamino."

"Now let's see why someone was so keen to hide it from us." Tey replied as they headed for the planet. Upon entering the atmosphere, the two Jedi found the planet to be in the midst of a torrential downpour, but Obi-Wan and Tey were experienced enough pilots to safely navigate through it. Ahead, they saw a huge, ultra-modern city resting on great stilts that kept it above the pounding waves that covered the surface of the planet. The starfighters landed safely on a vacant landing platform and the two Jedi disembarked, pulling their hoods up and wrapping their robes around themselves to keep dry. "Can't say much for the weather here." Tey remarked as they headed for a tower on the far side of the platform.

A door opened for them and the two Jedi entered into a gleaming white corridor. They lowered their hoods to see a tall, slender, female Kaminoan approach them. "Welcome to Tipoca City, Master Jedi." she greeted them. "The Prime Minister is expecting you."

"We're expected?" Obi-Wan blinked in surprise.

"Of course." the Kaminoan, Taun We, replied. "He anxious to meet you. After all these years, we were beginning to think you weren't coming. Now, please, this way." And she turned and began to lead the two Jedi down the corridor. Presently, they arrived in a large, white-walled office, where a male Kaminoan was waiting. "May I present Lama Su, Prime Minister of Kamino." Taun We introduced as the Prime Minister raised himself from his white spoon-shaped chair. "And these are Master Jedi..."

"Obi-Wan Kenobi." Obi-Wan bowed.

"Tey Sacul." Tey bowed as well.

"I trust you're going to enjoy your stay." Lama Su said. "Please..." He gestured to two chairs that had just lowered from the ceiling and the two Jedi sat down on them. "We are most happy you have arrived at the best part of the season."

"You make us feel most welcome." Obi-Wan said politely.

"And now down to business." Lama Su continued. "You will be delighted to hear that we on schedule. 200,000 units are ready, with a million more well on the way."

Neither Obi-Wan nor Tey had any idea what the Prime Minister was talking about, but they were quick to improvise. "That's... good news." Obi-Wan said.

"Please tell your Master Sifo-Dyas that his order will be met on time."

"I'm sorry, did you say Master Sifo-Dyas?" Tey frowned.

"Yes. Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is still a leading member of the Jedi Council, is he not?" Lama Su asked.

"I'm afraid Master Sifo-Dyas was killed almost 10 years ago." Obi-Wan informed him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that." Lama Su said.

"His name is listed on the memorial in the Jedi Temple," Tey said, "along with Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Tahl and the other great Jedi who are no longer with us."

"I'm sure Master Sifo-Dyas would've been proud of the army we've built for him." Lama Su went on.

"The army?" Obi-Wan blinked.

"Yes, a Clone army." Lama Su replied. "And I must say, one of the finest we've ever created."

"Tell me, Prime Minister, when Master Sifo-Dyas first contacted you about the army, did he say who it was for?" Tey asked.

"Of course he did. This army is for the Republic." Lama Su replied breezily. The two Jedi were surprised again, but they did a good job of keeping their faces neutral. "But you must be anxious to inspect the units for yourselves." Lama Su continued.

"That's why we're here." Obi-Wan continued to cover.

"And we're looking forward to it." Tey added as they all got to their feet.

~8~

Anakin, Padme and Livia were having a picnic in one of the idyllic meadows of Naboo. Anakin and Padme seemed to have put their secret kiss behind them and the mood at the picnic was playful and relaxed. "I don't know..." Padme blushed as she played with the grass at her feet.

"Sure ya do... you just don't wanna tell us." Anakin teased.

"You two gonna use ya Jedi mind tricks on me?"

"As if we'd do that." Livia said in mock-indignance. "It's against the Code to abuse our Force abilities."

"Besides, they only work on the weak-minded." Anakin added lamely.

"Alright." Padme conceded. "I was 12. His name was Palo, we were both in the Legislative Youth Programme. He was a few years older than I. Very cute. Dark, curly hair, dreamy eyes..."

"Oh, you've gotta watch out for them, Padme." Livia said nonchalantly. "From what I've heard, they're the ones more likely to break ya heart. What happened to him, then?"

"I went into public service, he went on to become an artist."

"Maybe he was the smart one." Anakin said smartly.

Padme cocked an eyebrow at him. "You really don't like politicians, do you?"

"He gets it from his master." Livia told her. "You should hear Master Obi-Wan go on about politicians."

"I like two or three..." Anakin told Padme, "but I'm not really sure about one of 'em." He and Padme smiled at each other, prompting Livia to roll her eyes at them. "I don't think the system works." Anakin went on seriously.

"How would you have it work?" Padme asked him.

"We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problem, agree what's in the best interest of all the people, and then do it."

"That's exactly what we do." Padme pointed out. "The trouble is that people don't always agree."

"Like Master Tey and the Jedi Council." Livia remarked.

"Well, then they should be made to." Anakin continued the political conversation.

"By whom? Who's gonna make 'em?" Padme challenged.

"I don't know." Anakin shrugged. "Someone."

"You?"

"Of course not me!"

"But someone..."

"Someone wise."

"Sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me." Padme shook her head.

"Well, if it works..." Anakin said nonchalantly.

"Ya know, Anakin, you're starting sound like a Separatist." Livia remarked. "You're not gonna run off and join Count Dooku, are ya?"

"Of course not." Anakin snorted. "I was just saying."

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Padme realised suddenly.

"Oh no, I'd be much too frightened to tease a Senator." Anakin said sarcastically.

"You're so bad!" Padme snorted.

Livia rolled her eyes again and stood up. "Where're you going?" Anakin asked her.

"For a walk." Livia replied. "Won't be long." And she went for a short walk around the nearby lake.

~8~

Lama Su and Taun We were taking Obi-Wan and Tey around on a guided tour of Tipoca City's cloning facilities. "Very impressive." Obi-Wan commented as he looked around at the millions of embryo pods around them.

"I'd hoped you'd be pleased." Lama Su said. "Clones can think creatively. You find that they are immensely superior to droids." They moved on into another area of the facility. "We take great pride in our combat education and training programmes. This group was created about five years ago." He gestured to a classroom full of boys, who all appeared to be about 10-years-old and all looked exactly the same.

"You said something about growth acceleration." Tey remarked.

"Oh yes, it's essential." Lama Su replied. "Otherwise, a mature Clone would take a lifetime to grow. Now we can do it in half the time."

"I see." Tey frowned, finding something rather inhuman about how the Kaminoans were breeding these people just to be soldiers. It was too much like slavery in her book.

Lama Su led the Jedi through an eating area where older Clones, appearing to be in the early 20's, were having a meal. "They are totally obedient, taking any order without question." Lama Su continued. "We modified their genetic structure to make them less independent than the original host."

"And who was the original host?" Obi-Wan asked.

"A bounty hunter called Jango Fett. We felt a Jedi would be the perfect choice, but Sifo-Dyas hand-picked Jango Fett himself."

"And where is this bounty hunter now?"

"Oh, we keep him here." Lama Su replied as the tour moved into the Clones' barracks. "Apart from his pay, which is considerable, Fett demanded only one thing: an unaltered Clone for himself. Curious, isn't it?"

"How d'ya mean, 'unaltered'?" Tey asked.

"Pure genetic replication." Lama Su replied. "No tampering with the structure to make it more docile, and no growth acceleration."

"A surrogate son." Tey realised.

"We would very much like to meet this Jango Fett." Obi-Wan said.

"I would be very happy to arrange it for you." Taun We replied.

The Kaminoans led the two Jedi to a balcony overlooking the Clones' parade ground. Below them, Obi-Wan and Tey saw thousands of Clones dressed in stark white armour, helmets covering their faces, marching and drilling in formations of several hundred. "Magnificent, aren't they?" Lama Su beamed with pride.

Obi-Wan nodded slowly, while Tey bit her lip. Neither of them shared the Prime Minister's admiration; they'd hoped to find some answers here, but instead just had more questions. Something about this Clone army didn't sit right.

~8~

Livia returned from her walk around the lake to find Padme looking at something in the nearby field. She followed her gaze to see Anakin standing on the back of a Shaak, while Padme watched with amusement. Anakin suddenly lost his footing and tumbled head over heels into the grass. Padme quickly ran over to him. "Ani! Ani, are you alright?" she fussed.

"Of course he is." Livia said nonchalantly as she sauntered over. "He just wants some attention." She then noticed Anakin's lightsabre lying on the grass next to him, having falling off his belt during the tumble. Livia gave a mischievous smile and used the Force to summon the lightsabre to her hand. "Yoink!" she teased.

"Hey!" Anakin yelled as he jumped to his feet. "That's mine!"

"Then catch!" Livia teased, and threw the lightsabre over her shoulder.

Anakin promptly used the Force to retrieve his weapon and he hung it back on his belt, giving his fellow Jedi an indignant glare all the while.

Author's notes: And there we have the kiss scene. Unfortunately for Livia, she was otherwise occupied while that was going on, so was unable to stop it. She did get to participate in the picnic, though, and had a bit of fun at Anakin's expense. Meanwhile, we've also got the introduction of Kamino and the Clones. I love the Kamino scenes in AOTC. There's a very noir feel to that part of the film, and it was fun to write them. Next chapter will see the introduction of Jango Fett. See you then!