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Padmé shivered and levered her eyes open. She was only warm where her body touched Obi-Wan's. She snuggled closer, pressing her back against his. Her side was numb.
The sound of a motor echoed around the pillars, then cut off. Faint footsteps rang across the far side of the parkade.
"Time to go," Obi-Wan whispered.
"You're awake."
"For a few moments. Long enough to know you're as cold as I am and that we need to move before we freeze to this ferrocrete."
Obi-Wan shifted, popped to his feet and brushed off his clothing. Padmé sat up and stared at him, afraid to open her mouth lest she start to sputter. How could he be so agile when she could barely move? It wasn't fair. He reached down and pulled Padmé to her feet, steadying her when her left side almost refused to hold her weight.
She waved him away and asked, "How is your arm?"
"I barely feel a thing. How's you're shoulder?"
"It's okay." Padmé paused and sniffed. "Do I smell as awful as you?"
Obi-Wan chuckled. "Very likely. A souvenir from the sewer portion of our tour."
"We ought to complain to the tour company about that unexpected deviation in our travel plans."
"You were the one who wanted to see Coruscant up close and personal."
Padmé rolled her eyes. She was not going to win this verbal sparring match. "So, what do we do now?"
"A globefruit for breakfast, and then we make our final run for the Temple."
"You have globefruit with you? I love globefruit." Padmé looked into Obi-Wan's sparking eyes. She felt suddenly foolish. Of course he didn't have any. Neither of them carried a pack. She scowled. "You can be a terrible tease."
One side of Obi-Wan's face lit up with a crooked smile. "Only with my friends. No globefruit, sorry. How about a kiss for luck?"
Padmé snorted. "In your dreams."
"You never did tell me who --"
"Are you driving, or am I?" Padmé crossed her arms.
"I am." Amusement flickered through his gaze. "Someday, you'll tell me. Friend."
"We've been spotted." Obi-Wan spoke right beside Padmé's ear so she could hear him.
"How do you know?" She shouted over the roar of the engine and other traffic.
"Spy-bot." Obi-Wan scanned ahead, searching for more signs of Coruscant Security. Nothing stood out, which concerned him. They were walking into a well laid out trap. "Hang on. We're going in hot." And fast, he added silently, as he opened the throttle.
The swoop jumped ahead. Obi-Wan sometimes complained to Anakin that he hated flying, but that was only partly true. He hated it when Anakin was at the helm -- because it meant he was not in control. But he also knew how much Anakin reveled in, almost needed, the outlet speed offered, so he usually let him fly. And Anakin was the better pilot. But Obi-Wan could hold his own -- like now, weaving in and out of traffic, slowing down for nothing.
The avenue was broad, and this early the traffic was fairly light. As they had neared the Temple, Obi-Wan had taken the swoop to one of the higher sky lanes because all of the vehicular accesses to the Temple were on the upper levels. It was easier to maneuver here, but it offered less cover. Now that they'd been spotted, caution was pointless.
For the first time in days, Obi-Wan expanded his knowing beyond himself and Padme. He was immediately met by the strong Force presence of Yoda, who was obviously searching for him. Rather than attempt to communicate, Obi-Wan simply returned his focus to the task at hand, but left his shielding lowered so Yoda could track him. The Jedi master would sense how close they were. If Yoda could help them, he would.
Obi-Wan leaned into a curve. The swoop tipped sharply as they barreled around the corner at full tilt. Silently, Padmé held on, her back pressed against Obi-Wan's chest. As soon as they leveled out, Padmé pulled the blaster from under her sash and rested it against her thigh. Obi-Wan smiled. He liked her style.
The Temple came into view when they passed a hulking transport.
Two more spy-bots registered out of the corner of Obi-Wan's eye. His danger sense hummed louder the closer they got to safety. Suddenly it felt like peril surrounded them, instead of just being ahead. Obi-Wan glanced over his shoulder and spotted two C-Sec cruisers pulling into the flow of traffic.
No turning back. Obi-Wan narrowed his gaze and focused on the goal. A small landing pad now only a kilometer away. He pursed his lips as three cruisers rose from the pad and started toward them. He swerved left, suddenly dropping below traffic and circling sharply when two more cruisers flashed toward him from that direction. A troop of C-Sec swoops shot up from the lower levels, cutting off that escape.
Obi-Wan steered the swoop to the right, the only direction they'd allowed him. For a second he thought he saw an escape route, then a C-Sec cruiser filled the hole.
The first laser flashed by on their right. Obi-Wan jerked the swoop right in the laser's wake as a bolt of red sizzled through the air to their left. Obi-Wan dodged several more shots as they neared the edge of the space lanes.
A shot clipped their underbelly. The swoop began to pull sharply to the left. One stabilizer gone. Obi-Wan fought to keep the swoop level and veered toward a small plaza fronting an office complex. Their altitude dropped dangerously and they suddenly found themselves hurtling towards a wall.
Obi-Wan shouted, "Let go. We have to jump."
He latched onto Padmé's waist and the Force at the same instant. Launching from the swoop seconds before it slammed into the wall, Obi-Wan let the shockwave from the blast give them the final impetus they needed to clear the low parapet skirting the plaza.
They landed running. Laser bolts bit into the ferrocrete at their heels. The sheer wall of an office tower stopped their dash to freedom. Obi-Wan spun and planted himself. His lightsaber sprang to life and wove a protective shield before them. He sensed Padmé crouching behind him, tense and ready to fight.
They were far too exposed, with nowhere to go. A line of C-Sec officers advanced towards them on foot, while the vehicles hovered well away from the plaza. Over the edge was no option. Obi-Wan ignored the nagging sense of looming defeat swelling within and opened himself fully to the Force as he concentrated on deflecting each shot.
Still, the line closed in. And the hunter was in its midst. He could sense it.
Mace exhaled a measured breath, counting as he released his discomfort with his air. His shoulders and ankles ached from bracing himself in the chimney-like crevice for the last hour. Again he had to remind himself not to look down ... into endless nothing.
As he had fallen, Mace had somersaulted and twisted, redirecting his body toward the wall. Everything had seemed to move in slow motion. The recess in the wall and reaching out. His fingers catching on a narrow ledge. Using the Force to hang on and cushion the wrenching pull of gravity. Wedging himself in his safe haven. Voices above him calling, shouting. Running footsteps, then Major Tem's voice, demanding to know what had happened -- a flat tone that had prickled over Mace's skin. His questions had sounded robotic -- or practiced -- and had urged Mace to let them think he had disappeared into the murky depths of the canyon.
The explosion had kindled Mace's need to move.
His fingers curled over the ledge. Mace inhaled the Force and vaulted over the edge. Right back where he'd started. He crouched, taking in the scene in an instant. The plaza was ringed by C-Sec vehicles. Less than ten meters to Mace's left, Obi-Wan was caught in a tightening cordon of security officers.
Without hesitation, Mace charged forward. His leg threatened to give way; he shored it up with the Force. He unclipped his lightsaber as he ran, and cracked one officer on the back of the skull as he broke through the line. A laser bolt whisked past his ear. The next found its mark -- scratching his left shoulder with white hot heat.
Mace stumbled, then catapulted the remaining distance, somersaulting and twisting to land on his feet facing the advancing men. His violet blade immediately joined Obi-Wan's in deflecting fire.
"Nice of you to drop in," Obi-Wan said. "Not sure you should stick around though."
"Why is that?" Mace shunted aside the burning ache in his shoulder and focused on the streaks of red winging toward them. He deflected each in turn. He knew he was still too weak to survive a prolonged fight.
"They seem determined to write out my arrest warrant with my blood," Obi-Wan said.
"Then take the fight to them. I'm in no shape to fight, but I can guard the senator." Mace sensed her behind him, and the way her frustration pulsed through her aura. She obviously didn't like just sitting still in such a situation. He shot a quick glance at Obi-Wan and nodded. "Go. Just try to not kill anyone."
As Obi-Wan leapt to the side, Mace's gaze collided with Major Tem's. Hatred radiated out from that black stare with the intensity of a supernova.
Padmé bit back a cry when Obi-Wan leapt away. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second. They flew back open of their own accord. She couldn't look away.
Obi-Wan sailed toward the end of the line. His heel knocked the temple of the closest man as he landed. Padmé held her breath and watched in amazement as Obi-Wan danced and wove his way down the line. He used the nearest officers as living shields. Several fell, wounded by their own comrades. With minute precision, Obi-Wan cut and parried, spun and lunged. Never killing, only disarming or wounding.
Padmé eased out of her crouch. No shots were aimed their way, as every C-Sec officer concentrated on Obi-Wan. She whispered, "It's ... beautiful. Almost like he's dancing."
"He is," Mace replied. "The Force leads, he follows."
Obi-Wan's grace and agility almost made Padmé forget the deadly nature of his dance. Then she noticed the remaining officers spreading out, trying to encircle the Jedi. Her breath caught in her throat. She raised the blaster and took aim.
Mace grabbed her wrist and shook his head. "He wouldn't want you to kill anyone here, Senator. Not C-Sec officers. Not even to save his life."
Padmé choked back a frustrated sob. Don't die, Obi-Wan. Anakin couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear it.
He saw each bolt before it was fired, knew each move before he took it. Dip and parry. Spin and deflect. Lunge. Uppercut. Twist. The Force pulsated through and around him. He sensed the web spreading out, surrounding him. Seeking to destroy him. Still he danced.
The Force beckoned him forward. He willingly followed. Into the circle of death. With no one to protect his back, he knew he would fall. But all that mattered was this moment -- and the will of the Force.
He leapt high in a corkscrew spin that turned his blue blade
into a whirling blur. He touched down, prepared to die.
A loudspeaker boomed across the plaza. "Cease fire! This is Commander Skelty. Cease fire immediately!"
The command echoed over the suddenly frozen tableau. Obi-Wan stood in battle stance, chest heaving, his lightsaber humming in front of him. Around him, C-Sec officers exchanged uncertain glances.
Mere meters beyond the cordon surrounding Obi-Wan, a C-Sec transport descended toward the plaza. A meter above the deck, the hatch opened and a stream of officers flowed out of the transport and encircled the existing ring.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes for a nanosecond and powered down his blade. He clipped it to his belt. To continue the fight was to invite carnage. He didn't know which of these men were really C-Sec and which weren't. If they chose to kill him, so be it. He opened his eyes and met the black stare of a swarthy C-Sec major. His hatred was palpable.
The hunter. Obi-Wan held the gaze of his enemy, and wondered from whence the enmity grew. He didn't know this man. But he had met the Dark Side before. And this man was steeped in it.
The loudspeaker sounded again. "All Security personnel within the circle are to put down your weapons."
Obi-Wan blinked his surprise. Malice flared in the major's eyes. He raised his blaster and took aim at Obi-Wan's chest. The Jedi dove towards the major, slightly to the left. He landed on his hand and swung his legs in a long arc. His boots caught the major at the ankle and swept his feet from under him. The blaster fired harmlessly into the air.
Rolling smoothly into a crouch, Obi-Wan flowed to his feet and watched impassively as two officers from the outer cordon wrestled binders onto the major. All around the circle, weapons clattered to the ground.
Two figures emerged from the transport. Bemused, Obi-Wan regarded Yoda and a golden-skinned C-Sec commander approaching him. Yoda shuffled with inherent dignity, his chin held high and ears level. His green eyes shone with pride, even as his lips pressed together sternly. Obi-Wan clenched his jaw to keep from smiling, and dropped to one knee.
The double cordon opened. The Jedi master and C-Sec commander halted in front of Obi-Wan. The knight dipped his chin to his chest and waited for Yoda to speak.
It was the commander who broke the silence. "Obi-Wan Kenobi, all charges pending against you are hearby dropped."
Obi-Wan's head jerked up. His eyes questioned Yoda, who nodded his affirmation. Obi-Wan stood and turned to the commander. "All charges?"
"Yes," Commander Skelty replied. "The officers you killed at the warehouse weren't C-Sec at all, as it turned out. But then, I suspect you knew that." Obi-Wan nodded as the commander continued, "Your Master Yoda alerted me to the, ah, warning bells he had when he met Major Tem. Under his advice, I put my own surveillance operation into effect. Unfortunately, the only way we could discover his inclinations was to put you at great risk. And Master Windu, as it turned out."
Obi-Wan frowned in confusion. "What happened to Mace?"
"An attempt was made on his life. We got it all on surveillance holos. We took the suspects into custody once they were well away from the scene, and I fully expect they will turn out to be connected with Tem. Master Yoda confirmed that it was Tem who used your friend, Astri Oddo, as bait to discover your whereabouts. And now we have Tem for this attempt on your life." Skelty paused. "I don't know how many of these men will turn out to be part of his operation, but I thank you for not killing any of them."
Obi-Wan nodded curtly. A disturbance to the side drew his attention. A smile grew at the sight of Padmé elbowing her way through the ring of C-Sec officers. She dashed towards Obi-Wan and threw herself at him. He hugged her grimly.
Suddenly remembering where he was, Obi-Wan unloosed Padmé's grip and stepped back hastily. He felt Yoda's intense scrutiny and strained to dissipate the heat creeping up his neck and across his cheeks. Couldn't he even accept a hug without someone coming to a wrong conclusion?
Skelty cleared his throat. "Chancellor Palpatine has asked that I personally escort Senator Amidala back to her apartments. If you are ready, we can leave immediately, Senator."
Obi-Wan could almost feel Padmé don her political persona, and he had to squelch his irritation. Her voice was very quiet. "As you wish, Commander." She turned to Obi-Wan. "Thank you, Master Kenobi, for your diligent protection." She extended her hand.
Taking her hand, Obi-Wan brushed his thumb across her fingers, and then touched his lips to her knuckles. He lingered a second longer than necessary. "It was my honor to serve you thus, Senator."
Obi-Wan released her hand and swept into a low bow. When he looked up Padmé was already walking toward the transport.
Skelty's second-in-command was crouched beside Yoda, chattering in his ear. He listened half-heartedly as the man droned on about running in-depth security checks on every officer involved in the search operation Tem had headed.
The Jedi master's attention was focused on Obi-Wan, as Mace led him to a speeder waiting to whisk him to the Temple. Obi-Wan had yet to fully raise his shields again. Sadness, resignation, perhaps even longing -- these emotions swirled and eddied through the young knight. What had transpired these last few days to arouse such stark feelings?
A bond had been formed between the knight and the senator. Yoda hoped Obi-Wan knew what he was doing. He sighed.
Obi-Wan spun, his shields snapping into place as his gaze zeroed in on Yoda. They stared at each other for a long moment. Yoda inclined his head in honor of the proud Jedi who faced him with no trace of fear or regret. Obi-Wan visibly relaxed and vaulted into the back seat of the speeder. He clapped Mace on the shoulder and smiled when the dark-skinned Jedi winced. Mace said something and Obi-Wan laughed.
Yoda watched the speeder zip into the unending river of traffic, nodding absently as the man beside him continued his droning chronicle of C-Sec efficiency.
Obi-Wan held the babe in his arms. He chucked the tiny chin and looked up to smile at Astri. "Can baby boys be beautiful? This one is. Beautiful." He returned his attention to clear blue eyes staring out of a cherubic face. He brushed his fingertips over a thick mat of black hair. Reluctance tugged at his thoughts as he laid the baby back in his mother's arms.
The door opened and a tall black-haired man stepped into the room. Obi-Wan stood as the man's long stride ate the distance between them. The Jedi extended his hand. "I'm Obi-Wan Kenobi."
A durasteel grip caught Obi-Wan's hand and squeezed. Obi-Wan smiled tightly and looked up into eyes as blue as the baby's . Gelff wasn't quite as tall as Qui-Gon had been, but close. The man's assessing gaze softened and he said, "Gelff Nardo. Pleased to finally meet you."
His hand was released, and Obi-Wan surreptitiously flexed his fingers behind his back. He had been prepared to accept a black eye from the man, instead he had been offered friendship. Astri had herself a good man.
Gelff sat on the edge of the bed and curled his arm around Astri. He slipped a large finger into the baby's tight little reflexive grip. A lump of wistful longing clogged Obi-Wan's throat as he regarded the family before him. An image arose in his mind -- he and Luminara and ... Obi-Wan shunted the thought aside. Jedi didn't have children, only friendships. He cleared his throat. "What did you name him?"
"Jalal," Astri replied.
"Jalal Nardo." Obi-Wan smiled. "A strong name. And he will be strong, with you as his parents and Coruscant his home."
"No," Gelff replied tersely.
Obi-Wan arched one brow. Astri smiled apologetically. "Ever since our union, Gelff's parents have been asking us to take over the family farm. They have been raising Gelff's other two children by his first union -- Lithia and Druce. We've decided it's time to make our two families into one. "
Obi-Wan exclaimed, "Farm? You?"
"Don't look at me like that," Astri admonished.
"Sorry. It's just that ..." Obi-Wan shrugged. "Where is this farm?"
"Selonia," Gelff replied.
"Corellian system," Obi-Wan said. He grinned. "You'll do fine there, Astri. Especially since Jalal will have a brother and sister, with a few more to come, I'm sure."
Astri blushed. She glanced up at Gelff. Their gazes lingered, and Obi-Wan knew he no longer existed for them. He suddenly didn't want to witness what he could never experience.
Not bothering to say good-bye, Obi-Wan slipped out of the room. He paused by a large window in the waiting room and inhaled slow breaths as he stared blindly at the skyscape. It struck him that Padmé had escaped without revealing who it was she dreamed about. He hoped she found the happiness he could never seek.
Obi-Wan wheeled around, almost crashing into Winna. Force, she'd healed him more times than he cared to remember. Now her eyes reflected the overwhelming sadness that was threatening to crush his soul. He'd always been transparent to her. She held out her arms.
Shaking his head, Obi-Wan swept past her offered comfort. He needed some time alone.
Padmé stared blindly out the window. She felt incapable of motion. She had kept her promise to Anakin. And she had befriended the enigmatic Obi-Wan Kenobi. He wasn't so mysterious after all. And neither was he the ogre Anakin sometimes claimed. She should be happy. So why did it feel like she had betrayed them both?
No time to examine her thoughts -- duty called. Duty always called. Padmé felt suffocated by duty. She needed ... she wanted ... Her silent longings trailed into a quiet sigh.
Dormé appeared at her side. Dear Dormé. Padmé had been so relieved when she'd found out that, after the explosion, the remaining Jedi had ushered most of the consulate's denizens to safety -- Dormé included. Now her most trusted attendant stood silently by her side for a moment.
"You are troubled, Senator." Dormé spoke softly.
"I am in need," Padmé replied, equally quietly.
"Please let me help."
"You cannot." Padmé stopped, the sudden urge to go to Obi-Wan, to tell him the truth, rising to the fore. She turned to Dormé. "How much time until the banquet begins?"
Dormé glanced at her chrono. "85 minutes. Fifteen of which will be spent in travel." She hesitated. "But ..."
"But what?"
"Anakin arrived just a few minutes ago. He is ... pacing. Should I show him in, or shall we deal with your other concern first?"
Padmé took a soothing breath. "No. It was nothing of importance. Show him in."
Padmé stiffened as she faced the door. She despised deception. And theirs was going to end. Tonight. She loved Anakin too much to let him continue lying to his master and friend. To her friend. Anakin could tell Obi-Wan, or she would, it was Anakin's choice. But it was time that Obi-Wan learned the truth.
He had kissed a married woman. Not that he had meant to kiss her -- maybe someday his intended target would feel his gentle caress. Padmé smiled as the door opened and her husband hastened toward her.
The ceiling was completely unchanged from an hour ago. Obi-Wan knew because he had been staring at it the entire time. He couldn't summon the will to do anything. His mind was blessedly blank. And he liked it that way. If he wasn't thinking, he wasn't thinking of her. He had to pull himself together. But ... not yet. He needed to mourn this unexpected desire for a family. He needed to say good-bye to a dream that had never really been his. Somehow.
Had Qui-Gon ever faced this battle? He had loved and had lost Tahl. The person, not the dream. Force, how could he look into Luminara's eyes the next time she dropped by? She would see the truth. But she was gracious; she would offer to help him in any way she could. It was one of the things he loved about her. Love. Friendship was a form of love. It would be enough. It would have to be -- he wasn't going to lose her, lose what they had.
A quiet whoosh sounded from the living area. The outer door. Anakin. Still, Obi-Wan couldn't dredge up the energy to move. He heard a rustling in the doorway and slowly turned his head towards the sound.
Anakin leaned against the doorjamb, arms crossed, flesh over top of metal, looking as lazily arrogant as ever. His voice held a tint of ire. "Why would Master Yoda feel the need to waylay me the second I stepped inside the Temple? Why would he feel obligated to ask me if I had ever noticed anything ... suspicious... between you and Padmé?"
Obi-Wan blinked his astonishment. "Likely because he saw friendship and it surprised him, knowing as he does, how little I like politicians."
Tension eased from Anakin's frame. He flexed the golden fingers of his artificial arm and stepped into the room. "Padmé told me what happened. She ..." He peered out the window above Obi-Wan's head. "She was very insistent that I tell you ..."
Obi-Wan sat up, sensing the turmoil in his padawan. "Tell me what?"
Anakin said nothing. After a moment, shutters seemed to fall over his face and he stared at Obi-Wan with unfathomable eyes. "Thank you. She insisted I say 'thank you' for her."
"She already told me that herself." Obi-Wan's eyes narrowed. "Are you keeping secrets from me, Padawan?"
Anakin snorted. Disdain infused his expression. "How could a padawan keep a secret from his master? Especially one so powerful as you, Obi-Wan?" He retreated and paused by the doorway. "Do you mind if I retire and give you my report in the morning? I'm tired."
"Did you run into any trouble?"
"No. It was incredibly boring. The space freighter I was hitching a ride from broke down. Such a simple repair I could've done it in my sleep." Anakin inclined his head toward the hallway. "May I?"
Obi-Wan waved his okay. He stared at the empty doorway. An image arose in his mind, of Anakin and Padmé kissing, a shimmering lake behind them. He shook his head. He was tired, too. What foolishness, to think his dilemma was shared by his padawan.
Luminara would laugh. Obi-Wan smiled. It would be worth a little embarrassment to hear her laughter again.
Yoda stopped drawing circles in the sand with his gimer stick. He lifted his face to the artificial light bathing the Room of a Thousand Fountains. He closed his eyes, stretched out his senses and immersed them in the Force. He inhaled slowly and went back to his circles.
A shadow fell across the diminutive Jedi master. Obi-Wan sat on the bench beside him. "If you have a concern, please ask me directly next time."
"Mmm. Foolish, I was, to ask young Skywalker such a thing. So clouded, everything was, that struck by a moment of uncertainty, I was." He peered out of the corner of his eye at Obi-Wan. The knight looked strained, tired, as if he had been up all night, but Yoda could sense his inner peace. "Should I be worried, Obi-Wan?"
"My days spent with Padmé turned us into friends. Is that cause for concern?"
"No," Yoda replied. He drew another circle. "Fleeting for some, happiness is."
"Happiness is not our goal."
"Do you ever desire it, Obi-Wan?"
"I ..." Obi-Wan looked into Yoda's green eyes and smiled. "You mean the happiness that family brings? Yes, I do. I think I would be less than a man if I didn't. But ... I am also a Jedi. Friendship will suffice."
"Mmm. Wise you are, for one so young."
"Young? Sometimes I feel more ancient than you, Master. Sometimes I feel like I'm an old man standing in the middle of a wind-torn desert, eroding into nothing. Watching my years of service blow away, like particles of sand before a tempest."
Unease trickled down Yoda's spine. "Prophetic, I hope that feeling is not. Well lived, a life lived in service is. Happiness vanishes. Service remains. Seeks always to serve, a Jedi does."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan stood. He took a step and halted. "Do you think that I'm obnoxious? Or ... elitist?"
Arching his brows, Yoda leaned on his gimer stick. "Serious charges, those are. Meditate on them, you must. Where did you ...?"
Obi-Wan waved the question away. "It doesn't matter. And now, I must go wake the charge that has made me wise beyond my years. I'll make a Jedi of him if it kills me."
Yoda snorted. He watched Obi-Wan walk away, noted the power ... and the arrogance in his step. He sensed that, someday, Obi-Wan would lose that arrogance in a crushing defeat. But it would not break him. And what doesn't break you, makes you stronger.
A Jedi, you are, Obi-Wan. A Jedi, you will remain, until one with the Force, you become. Yoda drew another circle and nodded to himself.
