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Footsteps rang a hollow cadence. Measured. Deliberate. And closing. Obi-Wan pressed himself into the midnight shadows of two pillars closely set into the wall. His cloak drawn tight, he held his breath as the guard passed by, a dark figure floating through pools of moonlight that streamed through tall casement windows on the opposite side of the hall.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes and listened until the footsteps rounded a corner and faded away. His breath slipped out in a sigh. Secrecy was critical to the success of the mission; he couldn't risk having the alarm sounded. The lone guard who had challenged him came to mind. He knew the water would hide the body, but how much of the man's watch had remained? When would he be missed?
I know. I know. Don't center on my anxieties. Every day -- every minute even -- holds enough trouble of its own without worrying about the next. A sad smile flitted across the Jedi's lips and disappeared. His master would have been pleased to see how strongly he had come to depend on the Living Force. Been made to depend on it. If only for his survival.
The Jedi glided down the corridor, away from the retreating patrol, his passage a mere whisper over the marble floor. He rounded a corner and stared at the turbolift inset into a carved edifice. He hesitated a nanosecond before taking to the stairs on the right, silently bounding up them two at a time.
Two flights up, Obi-Wan was swallowed by the utter blackness of a long hallway. Without hesitating, he headed toward the double doors he knew dominated the end of the corridor. He did not need to see to know his feet passed over obsidian tiles veined with gold, or that the warm tawny walls were draped with tapestries depicting honor and valor and bravery. Moving swiftly so that all the infrared surveillance cameras would show was a blur, Obi-Wan arrived at his destination and flattened himself against the tall wooden doors.
Silence met the Jedi's ears as he strained to hear through the durasteel-reinforced entrance. It was quiet within. Too quiet. Extracting a slender tool from his utility belt, Obi-Wan inserted it in the old-fashioned lock and listened to the gentle whir as the lock slicer shifted the tumblers into place. The door slid into the wall.
Obi-Wan slipped into a large foyer draped with heavy curtains and froze. He sensed the presence behind the curtain on his left. A presence that didn't seem to be reacting to his entry. Asleep? The door slid closed behind him and the Jedi stepped forward.
Lights flashed on. Obi-Wan wheeled, lightsaber already in his hand and leaping to life. The green blade shimmered between him and the blaster aimed at his head.
"Obi-Wan!"
At the exclamation, the Jedi's gaze skipped from the weapon to the face behind it.
Pushing aside a surge of disappointment, Obi-Wan straightened slightly, his lightsaber still at the ready. "Captain Panaka. What are you doing here? I had hoped ... expected to have to deal with Anakin's watchdogs."
A black eyebrow twitched on the dark face. "If I had known you were coming, I might have arranged to make sure they were on duty so you could ... deal with them."
Obi-Wan nodded tersely, acknowledging their mutual distrust of the men in question.
The captain of the palace guard frowned. "What are you doing skulking around in the middle of the night? Her Highness always welcomes visits from you. Why the secrecy?" He tensed. "If you are here to do her harm ..."
"Don't be an idiot, Panaka. I'm here to remove her from harm. And the fewer that know, the better." The green blade twitched. "Let me pass."
"You aren't taking her anywhere, Obi-Wan. She's safe here. Unless the forces opposing the government are planning to make Naboo a target." Panaka's black eyes glittered. "Are they?"
A smile tugged at the Jedi's mouth. "You think me a rebel?"
"Are you a friend of Chancellor Palpatine's?"
The Jedi felt his features congeal into stone as he returned Panaka's stare. After a long moment, he whispered, "Never."
The blaster that had been slowly lowering, snapped back into place. Panaka's tone was harsh and unyielding. "Then you are an enemy to my queen."
Sadness tinged Obi-Wan's reply. "I would do anything for Padme and you know it. I'm not her enemy." He stood tall and powered down his blade, clipping it on his belt. "I do not wish to fight you, Panaka."
"Then leave."
"Anakin has woven a spell of complacency that is shielding you, and all of Naboo, from the truth. You only hear what Palpatine wants you to hear, Panaka. You think the dissidents are evil You think that the Chancellor and his champion are the defenders of peace and justice in the Republic." Obi-Wan drew nearer to the captain. "Don't be deceived. Open your eyes, man. They are destroying the Republic. You have no idea the path they are treading."
"You are treading the path of treason."
Obi-Wan inched closer. "I am trying to save the Republic we both love."
The blaster wavered, then held steady again. "All of this has nothing to do with her. Leave, Obi-Wan. Now."
Letting the worry show on his face, Obi-Wan replied. "It has everything to do with her. I'm not completely sure why, Panaka. I just know I have to get her to safety."
Contempt rippled across the captain's features. "So this is a Jedi thing. I should have known. As your power and influence wanes, you seek to regain it through rebellion. My queen will not be a pawn in your game, Jedi."
Obi-Wan sensed the finger squeezing the trigger. He lunged to the side, grabbing the barrel of the weapon and twisting it out of Panaka's hand to throw it across the room. Obi-Wan wheeled and plowed his fist into the captain's face. Panaka staggered back. He spat out a mouthful of blood and stepped into Obi-Wan's next punch, blocking it.
The men exchanged several blows. Obi-Wan leaned back to avoid a roundhouse swing. He dropped to the floor and scissored his legs, sweeping Panaka's legs out from under him. The Jedi flipped and landed on the captain's chest, his knees driving the air out of the man's lungs. Panaka's face darkened as he fought for air.
Pressing the hilt of his unlit weapon against the captain's temple, Obi-Wan caught and held the angry gaze. "Your loyalty to your queen is admirable, Panaka. And it is the only thing keeping you alive at this second. I hope you will take the opportunity to think long and hard about where your other loyalties lie -- for your own sake and for your queen's. If you reveal who has spirited her away, you will be placing her in danger."
The air rushed back into the captain's lungs and he gasped loudly. "Fool," he rasped. "Skywalker will know who has taken her anyway. He was your friend once. He'll ... sense your presence, or whatever it is that Jedi do."
"If that's the case, then you'll have no need to tell them it was me, will you?"
Obi-Wan cracked his lightsaber against Panaka's temple and shook his head sadly as he watched the black eyes roll into unconsciousness. He shifted to a crouch beside the limp body and pulled a needle from a compartment on his belt. Tapping the cylinder, he squirted the air bubbles out of the needle and jabbed it into Panaka's upper arm.
"That'll give me a day before you can tell them anything, friend." He patted the captain's shoulder and stood, then gazed down at the dark-skinned captain for a moment. I hope you are still a friend.
Igniting his lightsaber, the Jedi turned and touched the tip of the green blade to the lock, fusing it. Replacing his weapon, he pivoted and strode into the large salon of the royal quarters. What was warm and welcoming in daylight, took on a sinister hue in the night. Moonlight threw dark shadows around the room where they clung to corners and reached across patterned carpets, stretching dark fingers toward the Jedi. But there was no danger lurking there. He could sense it.
Still ... a lingering ... odor ... hung in the room. Obi-Wan's former Padawan. His former friend. He shivered. Every time the Force made him aware of Anakin, there was a growing darkness, and less light, to be found in the boy. No, not boy. He was a man, now. A dangerous man. Obi-Wan closed his eyes. If only you had lived, Master. I've sensed his resentment -- deep down he despises me for not saving you. So much of what he has become ... so much of it is my fault. The Jedi blinked his eyes open. He had no time for regrets. Choose one path, choose another. The Force only flows forward.
The Jedi glanced to the doors on the right that quartered Padme's chief handmaidens. He toyed with the thought of sealing them in their rooms, but just as quickly dismissed the idea. His feet carried him to the bed chamber on the left, and he found himself staring down at a sleeping Padme, wondering how it had come to this.
The curtains were open to the night's light. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her still form, hands tucked under the pillow, loose braid streaming out behind her as if she were in full flight. Her face looked to be molded from Alderaanian clay -- delicate alabaster inlaid with dark arching eyebrows and black eyelashes that fanned her cheeks.
A lock of hair draped across her forehead. Padme's hand fluttered upwards to flick at it, then disappeared back under the pillow. Obi-Wan perched on the edge of the bed and gently brushed the hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered wistfully, softly tracing her jaw. Too familiar feelings welled up inside and he squeezed his eyes shut, thrusting the emotions back into their dark corner.
Fingers wrapped around his and the Jedi started. He searched the young woman's face, relaxing when he realized she still slept. He clenched his jaw as she pressed the back of his hand against her cheek and a smile flitted across her lips. The longing slammed back into his mind.
In her sleep, Padme smiled again, and whispered, "Ani."
Obi-Wan jerked his hand out of her grasp and jumped back as if he'd been stabbed by a vibro-blade. He willed himself to stop shaking and looked down. A small blaster was pointed at his head.
The Jedi sighed and said, "My head is not a target on a shooting range, despite what people seem to think tonight."
Padme sat up. "Obi-Wan? Is that you?" She reached over and activated a bedside glow lamp. "Obi-Wan. What are you doing? You scared me half to death."
"Could have fooled me. You aren't the one with a blaster pointed at their head."
Padme flushed prettily. With a muttered, "Sorry," she slid the blaster back under the pillow. She stopped and looked sharply at the Jedi. "Why are you here in the middle of the night? And where is Captain Panaka? And why do you have a black eye?"
"So many questions." Obi-Wan touched his bruised cheekbone and winced as he looked over the queen's shoulder. "It is very important. Otherwise, Panaka would never have allowed me to disturb you. He is very loyal to you."
Padme shot him an odd look and slipped out from under the covers. Obi-Wan handed her a robe that was laying on the foot of the bed. She wrapped it around her small form and padded over to a chair, motioning Obi-Wan to sit across from her. He followed and balanced awkwardly on the edge of the seat.
Even in an oversized blue robe, hair mussed, sleep clinging to her eyes, the Queen of the Naboo retained a natural poise that reminded Obi-Wan she was not a naive young woman, but rather an accomplished ruler. The Jedi dropped his head rather than endure her patient, questioning gaze. He stared at her toes, peeking out from under the long robe. Anakin's robe, he realized. He sighed inwardly. This was not going to be easy.
"You need to come with me, Padme. Now. Tonight." When no answer was forthcoming, Obi-Wan glanced up to see amusement arching one slender eyebrow.
The queen asked, "Am I in danger, Obi-Wan?"
He held her gaze. "Yes."
"How do you know?"
"I just know. If you remain, you will face grave danger."
"The security measures in the palace are unparalleled. They could only be breached ... by a Jedi." Padme paused. "Is there a Jedi threatening my life?"
Your husband. Obi-Wan bit back his answer and moved to the window behind Padme. Several floors down and to the left, one of the rivers of Theed tumbled over the precipice on which the palace perched. Far, far below, the plains stretched out, pale in the strong moonlight. Padme moved to Obi-Wan's side and stared into the night with the brooding Jedi.
Turning to her, Obi-Wan rested his hands on her shoulders and searched her curious face. "Do you trust me, Padme?" he asked.
"Why do you always call me Padme?"
"It is who you will always be to me. The feisty handmaiden. The girl with more heart, more courage, than someone twice her size. To me, Queen Amidala is a mask you don when you clothe yourself in finery and paint your face. The person ... the person inside is Padme."
She smiled. "Anakin says almost the same thing."
The Jedi dropped his hands. "Do you trust me?"
A frown furrowed her brow. "Of course I trust you, Obi-Wan. You don't need to ask."
Closing his eyes for a second, the Jedi met her earnest gaze. "Then come with me. Please."
Worry crept into Padme's eyes. "Has something happened to Anakin?"
Turning to stare into the night, the Jedi whispered, "He is the reason I'm here."
"Why didn't you just say so? You must take me to him, Obi-Wan." She spun and headed to her dressing room. "Five minutes. That's all I need."
"Padme." She halted. "Dress simply. And ... do you still keep a weapons store in the apartment? Ascension guns?"
The queen pivoted to face the Jedi. "Wouldn't walking through the halls be simpler?"
"But not safer."
Exasperation stole across her features. "You'd better have a good explanation for all of this, Obi-Wan." She paused. "The guns are hidden in a false bottom of my pedestal desk. I'm sure you can find them." She disappeared into the dressing room.
The Jedi let out a slow breath. So far, so good. He hadn't had to actually lie to her. He tugged at the chin hairs of his beard, then blinked and headed for the salon.
Before returning to the bed chamber, Obi-Wan opened the window a crack and tossed the needle into the night, followed by an empty vial. Those handmaidens wouldn't sound the alarm, though they'd wake with awful headaches. They were Padme's friends. She might have wanted them to come along. The Jedi clenched and unclenched his fist. Even friends could not be trusted in these dark days. How had Anakin managed to deceive her? To hide what he was becoming? Perhaps he truly did love her. If he was capable of love.
Slipping back into the queen's bedroom, Obi-Wan drew up short. He stared as Padme finished pulling on her second tall boot. It was like standing on Tatooine again, seeing her in peasant garb for the first time, when she had insisted on accompanying Master Qui-Gon into Mos Espa. Baggy blue pantaloons and a grey tunic that bordered on being too big. Long hair swept back to tumble down her spine to her waist. She stood up and returned his gaping look with a distracted glance. Force help him, she was so ... beautiful.
"Now I feel like Padme again." The queen's comment broke through his thoughts. She arched an eyebrow. "Shall we go?"
Obi-Wan shrugged off his lapse and tossed her an ascension gun. He bowed slightly and waved his hand. "After you, m'lady."
Shooting him a scornful glance, Padme headed to the window. Pushing it open to let the moss-scented air waft into the room, she leaned into the night, then twisted to return her attention to the Jedi. "There isn't much below us, you know."
"I'm aware of that," Obi-Wan replied. "But if we let out the full length of cable from the guns, then swing hard, we can jump and land on the patio beside the river."
Padme leveled an unbelieving stare at the Jedi. Obi-Wan smiled. "I'll go first if you want. Catch you if you fall."
"Good idea. Then if I change my mind, I can undo your cable and seal up the apartment."
"That would really slow us down, Padme. All that time lost to having to breach your security ... again."
The queen sighed. "If it weren't for the fact you are taking me to Anakin, I'd have your impertinent Jedi hide thrown into a detention cell."
"I've broken out of those before, too, you know."
"Get out of my palace."
Obi-Wan grinned and jumped up onto the window ledge. He grabbed the frame with his left hand and leaned out as far as he could. Taking aim at a ledge two meters above, he fired the ascension gun, nodding when he heard the satisfying thunk. He handed the attached weapon to Padme and repeated the procedure with the second gun.
With a whispered, "See you in a few minutes," the Jedi stepped off the ledge and dropped, Padme's gasp sounding in his ears. As the cable played out, the rate of descent slowed, until Obi-Wan's fall ended with a tiny jerk. Craning his neck back to look up, he could see Padme hanging out her window, watching his progress.
The Jedi walked vertically along the wall, away from the ledge he wanted to land on. When he'd gone as far as the cable would allow, he took a deep breath and pushed away from the wall. Swinging in a long arch out over the waterfall then back toward the palace, the Jedi let go of the gun and flipped through the air to land on the stone walkway beside the river. He straightened and waved.
His heart lodged in his throat as he watched Padme fall. Obi-Wan tracked her progress as she walked along the wall, as he had done. She took a little run back toward the ledge before pushing herself out into the night.
Obi-Wan frowned. Her arch wasn't big enough. Padme twisted and lunged as she let go of the gun. Obi-Wan flung his senses out and grabbed her with the Force, pulling her through the air. She slammed against his chest and they both tumbled to the ground.
After a moment, Padme rolled over with a groan and rested her hand on Obi-Wan's heaving chest. She whispered, "I wasn't going to make it, was I?"
Obi-Wan stared at the night sky. He forced the tremor out of his voice. "You were close."
He closed his eyes as her lips brushed his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered. He heard her climb to her feet. A toe nudged him. "Come on, Jedi. Where to now? The spaceport?"
Rolling over, Obi-Wan pushed himself to his feet. "No. I didn't want to attract undue attention."
Padme shook her head. "The outskirts then. Just like the good old days."
"Better days than these, at any rate," Obi-Wan muttered, as he lengthened his stride to catch up to the queen.
As they were nearing the edge of the palace grounds, Obi-Wan sensed movement ahead. He grabbed Padme around the waist and muffled her cry. Pulling her into the shadows, he jammed her in a crevice and crowded against her, his cloak shielding them both. He felt her angry glare, ignoring it to focus on the patrolling guard. When the sentry had passed by he stepped back.
Padme hit him on the chest. "Don't do that again," she whispered. I will not hide from my own guards."
Tilting her chin up with his index finger, Obi-Wan said, "I will do what I must to keep you safe, your Highness."
Crossing her arms, Padme glared at him. After a long moment, Obi-Wan took her by the elbow and steered her down the boulevard that bordered the river. He could feel her tension in her gait. He scanned ahead, furiously hoping that they wouldn't be challenged. If he had to kill a Naboo soldier in front of her eyes, she would turn back. And there was no turning back. Not after tonight.
They skirted the river for several blocks. Suddenly, Obi-Wan pulled Padme toward the water and down a short flight of steps to a stone dock. Padme looked down at the small watercraft bobbing at their feet, then back up to Obi-Wan's face.
"That's, that's a ..." Padme trailed off.
"A bongo. Right. Hop in, your Highness."
She sighed. "Well, I suppose it's better than walking."
Obi-Wan settled in behind the controls. While he powered up the Gungan submersible, Padme asked, "Just how far is your ship?"
He flipped a switch, activating the water shields. As the ship started to sink under the water, the Jedi replied, "Not far ... as a bongo sails."
