Bly had barely waited until they were in hyperspace for the first part of the journey before he obtained permission to leave and went hunting his officers.

He found Captain Tyto on his way to the officer’s lounge.

“Commander Bly,” Tyto said, saluting.

“Captain,” Bly said. “are you busy?”

“Preparing for battle inspection,” Tyto replied.

Bly considered, “I need a moment of your time.  Please round up the other officers and have them meet me in the officer’s lounge.”

“I’ll take care of it sir,” Tyto said with a quick salute.

Bly found the lounge empty, but it didn’t take long for the Captains and Commanders to join him. “Before I begin, please note that I will be having this conversation with the officers on the other ships.”

“What’s going on sir?” Deet asked.

“There are rumors going around about our General,” Bly said, meeting each man’s eyes pointedly. “Rumors stating that the relationship between her and myself is against regulations and highly inappropriate.  I am aware that General Vos has made his own opinions on the matter exceptionally clear, but that is no excuse.  If I hear any man in this battalion in any way sharing, spreading, or creating those rumors, I will take action.  You will do well to remember that if the High Council decides that General Secura is too close to us, they will reassign her.”

“They wouldn’t,” Tyto blurted out, then flushed when everyone looked at him, “Sorry, sir.”

“They will,” Bly replied. “General Aylixa was reassigned last month because there were too many rumors going around.  That’s how the 721st ended up with General Krell.”

They all winced. Krell was known for victories, but at a high cost.

“We’ll take care of it,” Grin said quickly.  “No more rumors.”

“Good,” Bly replied pointedly.

“Sir,” Tyto said carefully, “won’t people, uh, won’t they still think that?  Like, like how people thought that, uh, Cheer and Reese were.”

“They can think what they want,” Bly said, “as long as our people aren’t doing anything to fuel the rumors, that’s all we can hope to do.  Unfortunately, as I said, General Vos has some strong opinions on the matter. All we can do is hope that nobody takes him seriously.”

“Do you think that likely sir?”

Bly shook his head slightly. “Not so long as there isn’t anything solid following it up, Gyer.”  He stepped back, “Now, we have a battle coming up, so finish getting ready.  We’ll assemble for a full briefing after the course correction.”

That done, Bly went to double check his own armor before heading back to the bridge.  He wasn’t surprised to find the General there, although he was a bit surprised to find her talking with General Vos.

“Seriously Quin, it wasn’t funny when you started this, and it’s definitely not funny now,” Aayla was saying as Bly came to stand behind her.

“I don’t know, Aayla,” General Vos drawled, “I thought it was pretty funny.  You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“No,” Aayla said, “not this time, but need I remind you that there are rules about these sorts of relationships, and if someone who didn’t know you took it seriously then I could pay the price.”

“Aayla,” General Vos began.

“Quinlan Vos,” Aayla snapped, loud enough that some of the others looked up.  “This is serious, Master.  Please stop trying to help.”

General Vos smiled at Aayla, the kind of smile that Bly had once seen Fett give to Boba, a look he’d once wished he could earn.  Bly cleared his throat, “General?”

Aayla turned, “Everything taken care of, Commander?”

“Everyone is preparing as best they can, sir,” Bly said.  “I intend to hold the more specific briefings after the course correction, when we have the longer wait.”

“Good,” Aayla said. She looked back at the hologram, “I’ll speak to you later, Master.”

“Keep yourself safe, Padawan,” General Vos replied.  He pointed at Bly, “Keep her safe, Commander.”

“Yes sir,” Bly said, and saluted.

As the hologram closed, Aayla snorted, “That man.”

“Sir?”  Bly asked.

“It’s all right,” Aayla said.  “Now, I’ve been looking at the information we have already received, have you had a chance to look over it?”

“Not yet,” Bly admitted, “there were things that needed to be taken care of.”

“I understand,” Aayla said. She turned to the communications board and began to input commands, “I’m forwarding the information to your datapad. Why don’t you review it over lunch? We’ll have a conference with General Kenobi after that.”

Bly wanted to demand to know when Aayla would eat, but he did know better.  His general was well able to feed herself when needed.  It was one of those things they had long since worked out, the trust that Aayla would and could take care of herself.

After lunch, Bly found himself sitting in on the meeting between Aayla and General Kenobi.  He wasn’t surprised to see Cody there as well, but this wasn’t the time for a personal conversation.

“Obi-Wan,” Aayla said after the greetings were out of the way, “I am worried.”

“About what?”  Obi-Wan asked.

“Nar Shaddaa,” Aayla said, “it makes no sense for Ventress to be there.  The Smuggler’s Moon isn’t exactly a Separatist target.”

Obi-Wan stroked his beard for a moment before leaning forward, “You’re right, Aayla.”

“I am?”  Aayla asked.

“Nar Shaddaa is not our actual destination.”

“But, the Council,” Aayla began.

“There is a concern that our assignments are being leaked,” Obi-Wan said, “this is a test of that. We will be going to Nar Shaddaa, as a transition point to another engagement.  If we are ambushed, we will know the truth.”

“Where are we really going?” Aayla asked.

“Beyond Hutt Space,” Obi-Wan replied, “Quinlan’s information indicated that there are things out there we need to see.”

“Beyond,” Aayla trailed off, “but shouldn’t this be a, a small task force?”

“Not according to Quinlan,” Obi-Wan said.

Aayla nodded slightly, “So we’re pretending to go to the Smuggler’s Moon on bad intel, when in fact we’re going somewhere else on good intel?”

“Yes,” General Kenobi said.

“What can we expect then,” Aayla asked.

“Trouble, and a lot of it,” General Kenobi said.  “Quin wasn’t able to give a complete report in person, because of the worries about a leak, but at our next course adjustment, we’ll be meeting up with Fett long enough to get the information from him.”

Aayla nodded, “Okay, I can get that.”  She turned to Bly, “Any questions, Commander?”

Bly shook his head, “Not at the moment sir, although I might after we get the additional information.”

“All right,” Aayla said.

“With your permission, I’d like to reissue my orders to the men,” Bly added, glancing between Aayla and General Kenobi.

“Go ahead, Commander,” Aayla said.

“Cody,” General Kenobi said.

“Of course,” Cody said, standing up.  “General Secura.”

“Commander Cody,” Aayla replied.

“Mind if I walk with you, brother?” Cody asked.

“Not at all,” Bly replied.

They left the Generals and Bly led the way down to the closet-like ready room that was set aside for his use.

“New orders?”  Cody asked as the door closed behind him.

“Preparing for boarding parties requires different orders from landing parties,” Bly said, “I need to redeploy my men, warn the Captain, make sure that the irreplaceable supplies are located in the inner holds and not the outer.”

“Well, if you and General Secura had been,” Cody began.

Bly snarled, the sound coming almost unbidden, “We did not ask to be locked in that room, Cody.  No more than we have at any other time that General Vos has decided it necessary. I wouldn’t do that to Aayla.”

“Aayla, is it?”  Cody said.

“Don’t,” Bly said and sat down at his desk.  “Not you too. Remember, I met Aayla when they came to Kamino, she gave me permission then to call her Aayla, in private. We’re not, not together like that. I won’t.”

“Why not?”  Cody asked, “Everyone can see how you feel about her, and Kenobi seems to think it’s mutual, if the hints he’s dropped are anything to go by.”

Bly glanced up at his brother, “Excuse me for having trouble thinking about getting in bed with someone I tried to kill.”

“This again?”  Cody said, easing down on the crate that was currently serving as Bly’s guest chair.

“It’s always been this,” Bly replied.  “You don’t know, Cody.  That chip, what it did, I can’t put that on Aayla.  She has enough burdens to be dealing with right now to add codling me.”

“You say that, but what if she wants too,” Cody asked.

Bly pressed his hands down on his desk in a futile attempt to hide his overwrought state.  “Aayla told me that she had something similar happen to her, being mindwiped like that.  I adore her, yes, because she’s an amazing woman, and incredibly strong to boot. I can’t imagine what she had to do to overcome what was done to her, and I’m not going to be the nerf herder who shoves more of the same burden on her.  I’ll deal with my feelings on my own.”

“You don’t have to,” Cody said, “If you ever, and I mean ever, need to talk about it, you know you can talk to me, or Wolffe, or any of us.”

“I know,” Bly said, “but I can handle this.”

Whatever else Cody was going to say was interrupted by the beep of his communicator.  “Commander Cody,” Cody said.

“So, how long do you think we’ve been in here?”

Aayla opened her eye and glanced up, “Not as long as you think, Bly.  Sit down and relax, help’s coming.”

“Sorry, General,” Bly muttered, carefully easing down against the wall across from her.

“You know,” Aayla said, “if ever there was a moment you could call me Aayla, I think it would be after the, what, fifth time my Master has managed to lock us in a closet?”

“Sorry General,” Bly said, then winced, “Aayla.”

Aayla grinned at him, “We’ll get you there eventually, Bly.”

“If you say so,” Bly said, “So why is he doing this?”

“Quin?  Who even knows,” Aayla shook her head slightly, “He’s got some ideas about me and my chosen companions.  This might be his odd way of expressing approval.”

“Approval, for what?” Bly asked, “We aren’t…”

“I know Bly,” Aayla said, “although there are rumors.”

“I’ll talk to the men,” Bly said, lifting his chin stubbornly.  “They should know better than to tell stories about you.”

“I don’t mind, Bly,” Aayla said.  “There are worst people to be linked with than you.”  She reached over and rested her hand on Bly’s knee, making him jerk slightly and look from her face to her hand and back several times.  “Or is it that you don’t want to be linked to me.”

Bly swallowed and blinked, “I, uh, it’s not, ma’am, it’s not that.  I, I would be, honored, if I were linked to you.”  He shuddered slightly as Aayla leaned a little closer, “It’s just not proper, to be gossiping like that.  Not about you, Aayla.”

Aayla smiled and pressed a quick kiss to Bly’s cheek, “Don’t be too hard on the men, Bly.  It’s not like there isn’t some truth after all.” She set back and removed her hand, half closing her eyes moments before the door slid open.

“An interesting meeting place, you have found,” Master Yoda declared.

Aayla stood up, “It was at Master Quinlan’s suggestion, Master Yoda.  The door locked unexpectedly behind us.  Thank you for opening the door.”  She bowed.

“General Yoda,” Bly said as he stood up, “thank you, sir.”

“Welcome, you are, Commander Bly,” Master Yoda said.  “A meeting, we are called to.”

Aayla nodded, and twisted slightly to pointedly offer the diminutive Master her back, “We should get moving then.”

Yoda leaped up to settle on her back, an easy burden compared to the packs she’d carried in the field, but from the look on Bly’s face, it was slightly more scandalous than her carrying her share of food and shelter.  She could practically hear him claiming that if anybody was going to be Master Yoda’s living hoverchair, it should be Bly, or any other Clone, because such a thing was beneath a General’s dignity.  It would probably take Master Yoda himself to convince Bly that it was a Jedi’s role to be humble, not dignified.

Or, she amended to herself as they started up one of the lesser staircases, she could just have Bly be there the next time Obi-Wan came back to the Temple and get him started on some of his stories about being a Padawan under Master Qui-Gon Jinn.  All she’d need was three stories about the hairy things with teeth that adored Master Jinn, but considered Obi-Wan everything from scratching post to dinner, and Bly would stop going on about dignity.

They reached the War Room and Aayla paused to let Yoda down by the door, then grinned at the sight of Obi-Wan waiting inside with Cody.  Master Windu was also there, speaking to Agen Kolar over a hologram while two Knights that Aayla didn’t recognize bent over other screens and talked softly.

“Master Kenobi!” Aayla said, walking over to rest her hand on Obi-Wan’s arm.

“Aayla,” Obi-Wan said, “it’s still Obi-Wan, you know.”

Aayla gave him a grin with her teeth showing, “Oh, I know, but not when I want to ask you for a favor. After the meeting, perhaps?”

“Of course, my dear,” Obi-Wan said, patting her hand lightly.

Master Windu cleared his throat, “Knight Secura, Master Kenobi, we’re assigning the pair of you to a campaign on Nar Shadda.  We’ve received word that Asajj Ventress has been spotted in the area and we would like you to capture her.”

“We’ll need to leave immediately,” Obi-Wan said.

Master Windu inclined his head, “Do you anticipate any problems in getting underway?”

Aayla glanced at Bly, who was looking back, and she knew he was thinking what she was thinking. “When is Master Quinlan leaving Coruscant?”  Aayla asked.

“He left this morning,” Master Windu said.

Aayla pushed her lekku over her shoulder gently, “Then I don’t have a problem.  Commander Bly?”

“Resupply finished yesterday, ma’am.  The 327th is ready to head out.”  Bly replied promptly.

“The 212th is as well,” Obi-Wan said after exchanging a look with Cody.  He nodded to Master Windu, “With your permission.”

“Go,” Master Windu said.

Aayla bowed and followed Obi-Wan out of the war room, keeping her stride even and her position just behind and to the left of Obi-Wan exact.  Once they were in the lift, however, Obi-Wan turned to her and gave her a smile.

“Was there something you wanted?”

Aayla smiled slightly, “Nothing that can’t wait, Obi-Wan.  Were you waiting for us long?”

“Not that long,” Obi-Wan said, which could mean they were waiting for fifteen minutes to the long hours they’d been trapped.  “Quin up to his tricks again?”

Aayla tilted her head, mindful of the Commanders standing behind them.  “You know Quin, he’s always up to something.”

“You know that he does worry about you, right?”  Obi-Wan asked, “he wants you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” Aayla said. “I wish he’d just leave it be, you know? What happens will be the will of the Force.”

Obi-Wan nodded as the doors opened and they stepped out of the list.  “Cody, Commander Bly, would you go ahead?  I need to speak with Aayla in private.”

“Yes General,” Commander Cody said.  After a look to Aayla, Bly followed him down the hall to the shuttle bay.

“Aayla,” Obi-Wan said, “Quin’s just happy for you.”

“Quin doesn’t know what’s going on,” Aayla pointed out, “he’s building up this imaginary relationship between me and Bly.”

“Well, it’s the first time you’ve really shown an interest in anyone since,” Obi-Wan hesitated.

“Yes, and if you insane meddlers manage to scare off Bly, then it’ll be the last,” Aayla said bluntly, aware of, but not even bothering to contain her lekku’s angry movements.  “Bly and I, whatever we could be, or that we are? We’re working at our pace, and what feels best for us, not for you or Quin, or anyone else.  This is not a relationship to be built on guilt, grief, and regrets, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, this is a partnership intended to save the lives of as many men as possible.  Whatever so-called romance is involved?  It will always be second to my men and keeping them alive.  Now, I believe we’re to be heading to Nar Shadda, no?”

“My apologies,” Obi-Wan said, with a half-bow, “I didn’t mean to push so hard.  We should rendezvous at Naboo for a final strategy meeting before going on to Nar Shadda.”

Aayla shudder as she entered the infirmary after Taun We had given them a tour of the facility.  Quin had gone to speak with the Prime Minister of Kamino, but Aayla had begged off, hoping to speak with Jango.  The clone army that the Kaminoans had shown them left her feeling unsettled, not only the sameness of their features, but their purpose, how they echoed in the Force like a single, multi-part entity.  She’d seen hive cultures with less cohesion of purpose.  It was unlike anything she’d ever seen, but worse was how Quin had shut down as they went. Aayla wasn’t sure if he was angry or what, but he’d kept his tone even when speaking, but had otherwise retreated. He even kept his robe on, wrapped tight around him, as if to minimize the chance of picking up something that way.

Aayla had chanced a nudge of their old training bond after they had seen the young clones studying, but all she heard was what sounded like Anakin’s voice in a memory.

“Wait until you hear the full story before you go off.”

Quin was clearly repeating the memory to himself as they walked, a talisman against his own anger. When Aayla had left, she hoped Quin found his own balance.

As Aayla glanced around the infirmary, she was surprised to find three clones working with the Kaminoans to deal with a handful of patients judging by the privacy screen.  All of them stopped to stare when the door closed.

Aayla cleared her throat, reminding herself that she was a Jedi Knight and could handle herself.  “I’m looking for Jango Fett.”

One of the curtains parted, “I’m right here,” Jango said.  He turned and spoke to somebody behind him, then turned back, “There’s a place we can talk just outside.”

“Of course,” Aayla said, surprised that Jango was willing to leave his newly awoken son.  Then she took in his expression and realized both that he didn’t want the child aware of what he was going to say, and that he was very angry about what he wanted to tell her.

Jango pulled the curtain closed and accepted a small box from one of the clones, then approached Aayla. “Follow me.”

Jango led her to an office, where Jango settled behind the desk with an air of familiarity.  There was a deconstructed blaster on the desk, and a Mando helmet on the shelves behind him.

“I’m Aayla Secura,” Aayla offered, remembering that she hadn’t offered her name before, startled by his sudden appearance and familiarity with Quin.  “I hope your son is doing better?”

Jango’s smile seemed involuntary, “He’s recovering.”  He put the plastic box on the table that he’d brought from the infirmary.  “I assume you have questions?”

“Yes,” Aayla said, she quickly pulled out a datapad to take her own notes.  “Before we begin, this is an informal conversation and I will not be using a voice recorder, only taking notes.  Depending on what you say, in regard to our case and otherwise, a recording may be done later.  You are not currently a suspect in our investigation, but a witness.  That is understood?”

“I understand,” Jango said.

“You knew Zam Wessel?” Aayla asked, hoping to get through the preliminaries before the earth shattering revelations came out.

“She was an acquaintance,” Jango said, “we worked a few bounties together, competed for contracts on other jobs.  I wouldn’t say she was a friend, but I wouldn’t shoot her if we ended up going after the same target.”

“When did you last hear from her?”  Aayla asked.

“About three weeks ago, right after Boba,” He hesitated a long moment.  “She wanted me to partner with her on a job.  Said it was going to be in the Core, wanted someone she could trust to watch her back.  I told her I couldn’t, that I had something I was dealing with.  She seemed upset, but she didn’t really argue.”

Jango tapped the desk a moment, “What happened to Boba, it was related to her job.”

“How so?”  Aayla asked.

“Three weeks ago, I was contacted by the man I signed my employment contract with, give my work here at the facility.  The connection was bad, but I could understand.  He wanted me to assassinate a Republic Senator called Padmé Amidala.” Aayla couldn’t stop her first reaction, but she only closed her mouth and nodded to Jango to continue.  “The connection started blinking in and out when we were discussing my fee, and all that came through were ‘execution, order, sixty-six’.  Boba started screaming as soon as it came through.  I cut the call and took him to medical.  When the Kaminoans checked him over, they discovered that he had this in his brain, and it was active.”  Jango pushed the box closer to Aayla.

“You’re being very open with me,” Aayla said warily.

“In my contract, part of my price for doing this was Boba, a single clone, unaltered by any of their genetic fuckery or anything else they put in the troops.”  Jango said, “That chip violates our contract.  I don’t have any reason to stay my tongue.”  Jango leaned forward, “I know that you Jedi don’t hold with vengeance, but I’m Mandalorian.  Vengeance is written in our genetic code.”

Aayla picked up the chip and studied it, it was tiny.  After a moment, she looked up, “Vengeance is not the Jedi way, but I’m pragmatic enough to take advantage of someone else’s desire for it.  Do you have a recording of that call?”

“I do,” Jango said.

“Have you played it around any of the troopers?”  Aayla asked.

“No,” Jango said, dawning realization on his face.  “We should use a junior cadet.”

“Why?”  Aayla asked.

“If it’s anything other than hurting them like it did Boba, we can better subdue a barely trained six year old than one of the troopers,” Jango said.

Aayla stared at him, “You would do to a child what was done to your son?”

Jango frowned, “I don’t like it either, Master Jedi.  As I said, the younger cadets will be easier to subdue if this gets out of hand.  The older clones are trained as soldiers, they’re fighters.  I can’t guarantee that whatever that thing does to them will mean that they’ll listen to me, or that we’ll be able to control them.  The younger cadets will be more controllable if the worse happens.”

“What do you consider the worse?”  Aayla demanded, “Since clearly the torture of a child.”

“They’re all children,” Jango roared, slamming his hands on the desk.  Aayla leaned back, reaching for the Force to protect herself.  “Boba is the only child here that is his natural age, Jetii.  The Kamino scientists accelerated the aging of every other clone you’ve seen.  The oldest ones are eleven.”

Aayla was vaguely aware of Quin touching her mind through the bond, but the shock that jolted through her blanked out the room for a long moment.  It had been one thing for the Kamino to say it, but the numbers that Jango Fett told her shook her to her core.  Aayla reached out to the Force, drawing the familiar warmth to steady herself, to draw her back into the world around her.

A world where Quinlan Vos was backing Jango Fett into a corner, lightsaber in hand.

With the help of Bail Organa, Anakin and Typho were able to lay several false trails for Anakin and Padmé’s journey, none of which took advantage of the Chancellor’s generous offer. In the end, Anakin and Padmé left Coruscant in Bail Organa’s personal ship, riding along with a courier to Bail’s wife Breha, currently pregnant with the family’s first child.

“Do you think this will work?” Padmé asked as the little craft surged into hyperspace.

“I think so,” Anakin replied, carefully sorting through his pilot instincts to see if there was anything tangible.  “I don’t feel any signs of trouble.”  He shifted back in his seat, trying to relax more, and thanking Master Koon for his lessons on how to separate pilot anxiety from Force warnings.  He couldn’t always tell the difference, but he was working on it and that had to count for something.

“And we can get to Naboo from Alderaan easily,” Padmé said, “There are plenty of ships heading that way.” She rubbed her arms nervously, “I hope Sabé and Typho are okay.”

“They’ll be fine,” Anakin said, trying for another charming grin.  “They both know how to handle themselves.”

“What about us?” Padmé asked, her hands stilling a bit.

“We’ll be fine too,” Anakin said, “after all, you are the queen who stormed her captured palace and took it back, and I’m a reckless idiot with a lightsaber.  People aren’t going to want to mess with us.”

“You’re more than a reckless idiot,” Padmé said, eyes narrowing at him.  Anakin checked, but all he felt was an odd protective tinge to her aura, although he wasn’t sure what she thought she had to protect.

“Padmé, the week you met me, I won the Boonta Eve pod race, first, and youngest, human to ever do it, and then I accidentally piloted a star fighter into a droid control ship to shut down the droids,” Anakin said, settling back into himself.  “It’s not exactly like I’ve spent the past ten years in meditation either.”

“No,” Padmé said, “but I’m sure you have other things going for you, Anakin.”

Anakin shrugged, “I’m not sure I want to talk about it here though,” his eyes tracked from the lounge where they were seated to the cockpit.  He didn’t want to talk about the time travelers with someone else present, although he knew, in the way he’d always known, that Padmé was someone he could talk to about it.  Padmé would give him good advice, and not Jedi advice.  It was something he could feel down into his bones.

“That’s okay,” Padmé said, reaching over to squeeze Anakin’s forearm comfortingly.  “If nothing else, we’ll have plenty of time when we get to Naboo to talk about it.”

“If that’s what you want,” Anakin replied ducking his head slightly.  He didn’t want to bore her, even if he did want her advice on matters.

Padmé smiled, “You know, I have trouble believing you’ve grown up.”

“Oh?”  Anakin asked.

“Every year, Theeds has a remembrance of the Battle of Naboo,” Padmé said, “and part of it is a retelling of the way you flew that ship up to take at the droid control ship. I’ve seen pictures of you as that nine-year old boy who saved us every year.”

“Wow,” Anakin said, “I actually didn’t know that.”  He ducked his head, feeling his ears burn from the blush.  That was exactly what he needed to hear, that she remembered him, as the naïve nine-year-old he had been last time.  If he was going to ever be anything else to her, he’d have to prove himself against that.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Padmé said.

“No, I think that it actually might be,” Anakin said, “famous for something I did on accident and with the help of an astromech.”

Realizing that he wasn’t exactly being cheerful, Anakin got up and headed up to the cockpit to see what was going on.  

“We’re going to be at lightspeed for several hours,” the courier pilot said when Anakin stepped in.

“That’s all right,” Anakin said, he offered the man a smile, “Sorry though, I’m a pilot.”

“It’s never easy being the passenger, is it, sir?”  The pilot said.

“Never,” Anakin agreed.

“Well we’re doing fine,” the pilot said.

Anakin nodded and stepped out, finding that Padmé had left the lounge.  “Obi-Wan says hard things can be the best things,” Anakin reminded himself, then decided to settle down and try, again, to meditate in stillness.

It wasn’t that the meditation was impossible, but there was always a struggle to get there, to find the moment between seeking peace, and seeing the galaxy around him in ways that always left him feeling burned and unsettled.

When Anakin gave up and opened his eyes, he found Padmé watching him, “Sorry,” she said when Anakin looked at her.  “You just looked so peaceful, I was afraid to interrupt.”

Anakin smiled, “It’s all right, when meditating, it’s sometimes hard for the outside world to interrupt unless we permit it.”

“Ah, I see,” Padmé said, “we’ll be coming out of hyperspace soon, Dacre said.”

Anakin almost asked who Dacre was, but remembered that was the pilot.  “That’s good to know.”  He tried to smile at Padmé, “I’m not good at letting other people pilot when I’m on the ship.”

Padmé smiled back, “You sound like most pilots I know.  I hadn’t thought the Jedi encouraged that?”

“Well,” Anakin considered his response, “Most Jedi learn enough to be able to look after themselves when needed, the rest are split between the utterly helpless and the gifted. Jedi Pilots are Knights who focus specifically on flying, one of Master Obi-Wan’s friends is a pilot.  I considered the path myself, but there’s so many other things a Jedi Knight can be that I opted for a more generalized path for now.”

“I never thought of that,” Padmé said, “that there were many options.”

Anakin nodded as he moved from his seat on the floor onto the bench, “Well, there are the diplomats and ambassadors, like Master Obi-Wan.  Pilots, Temple Guardians, the Healers, Archivists, there are many options. You met Master Vos and Knight Secura, they work with Judicial more than anything, Master Vos is one of the best trackers the Order has.  He can find anything.”

“And you chose none of these?”  Padmé asked.

Anakin flushed, “I think I’d ask for Judicial assignments, when I’m a Knight.  They do a lot to help people who need it, more than any of the other groups.  They’re about bringing justice.  Besides, I’m not diplomatic, not really.  Not like Obi-Wan.”

“I think it makes you more real,” Padmé said, “less unreachable.”  She tilted her head, “I like that.”

The ship shuddered slightly as they came out of lightspeed and the ship switched to the sublights. Anakin glanced up, and at the cockpit, but he didn’t sense anything alarming from the pilot, so he forced himself to stay still and look back at Padmé with a smile.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

“I’m glad,” Padmé replied with an answering smile.

Anakin felt a little hope then, maybe he’d manage to make a friend out of Padmé yet.  Whether it would build off that, to that childhood vision, he couldn’t say.  It had been a long time since Anakin had looked at Padmé and knew that he was going to marry her.  It had been years since he’d looked at anyone and felt that sort of certainty.  For a moment, Anakin wondered why he’d lost it, but then Padmé was standing and heading for the cockpit again, and Anakin turned to follow her.

When Anakin arrived back at 500 Republica after grabbing breakfast and arranging for clean clothes to be ready for him before the day was over, he found Padme on a tear as she packed for the journey.  Captain Typho met Anakin at the lift, but it was easy to hear Padmé shouting in her bedroom when they entered the living room.

“I see the Chancellor has already spoken with her,” Anakin said to Typho.

The security captain shook his head slightly, “It’s possible that part of this is coming from how he spoke about the matter, but I’ll let the Senator explain it to you.”

“Of course, Captain,” Anakin said, “I’d like to find you later to discuss options for her security during travel.”

“I’ll be in the security suite,” Typho said with a nod.

Anakin left his robe in the living room, following the shouting until he saw Quinlan Vos standing just outside Padmé’s bedroom door, positioned where he could see to cover the bedroom and the living room.  He looked highly entertained as he waved to Anakin, but Anakin was more interested in listening to Padmé.

“I have worked a year, a year, to fight the Military Creation Act,” Padmé said, “and now they want to send me away like a scared little girl! At least I could have stayed for the vote, I’m sure something could have been done.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t know,” Sabé said in a milder tone.

Anakin kept his smile internal as he joined Quinlan.  She’d now been attacked twice, and still Padmé was focused on her duty than her safety. It reminded him of some of the Jedi he knew and admired the most.

“Good morning, Padawan,” Quinlan said softly, “did you and Aayla decide to switch places for the day?”

Anakin grinned now, because he liked the Kiffar Jedi, even when Obi-Wan adopted that long suffering mask around the two of them.  “The Council is sending you and Aayla to track that dart and find out who’s behind this. I’m taking over the Senator’s protection.”

“I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job at- protecting her,” Quinlan said, wiggling his eyebrows at Anakin. Anakin glanced away, feeling his cheeks warm.  “Do be careful, Padawan, the Senator is in a throwing things mood.”

“I’ll be sure to duck, Master Vos,” Anakin replied solemnly.

“Master Vos!”  Padmé shouted before appearing herself, “Please tell me that, oh, Anakin!”

Anakin smiled at Padmé, “Good morning, Senator.  The Council has sent me to take charge of your protection detail as Master Vos is needed to pursue the evidence from last night’s assault.”

“Oh,” Padmé said, “I, uh, I’m sorry for shouting.”

“It’s all right,” Anakin said, “I’d probably wouldn’t have been as nice about it.”

Quinlan cleared his throat, “I’ll just take my leave now.  Padawan, don’t get into too much trouble.”  He paused and leaned over to stage whisper, “Or at least, do a better job of not getting caught.”

“Master Vos,” Anakin yelped, hoping that Padmé hadn’t heard what Master Vos had said.  He liked the Kiffar all right, except when Master Vos decided to target him for some of his commentary.

As Master Vos left, Anakin turned to Padmé and gave her his best charming smile.  “Why don’t you take a break and catch me up on what’s going? Sometimes a change of perspective can make things look better.”

“I highly doubt that,” Padmé said sharply, then sighed, “I’m sorry Ani.  I’m just really not happy with this.  Would you like something to drink?”

“Not right now, thank you.” Anakin replied.  At first, he’d thought that maybe he could ease Padmé into a better humor, but now he wasn’t so sure.  He wished for a moment that Obi-Wan was there, because Obi-Wan would have known exactly what to do.  Then he forced himself to straighten up, because he wouldn’t have this assignment if they didn’t think he could do it, and part of that was helping Padmé adjust to the idea of a Jedi protector.

“The overall idea is that I’ll return to Naboo and stay in a safe location,” Padmé said, leading Anakin to the couch in the living room.  “The hope is that my enemy will lose track of me in the process and will overreach himself, allowing Master Vos and Aayla to find him.”

Anakin gripped his knees, hiding his dismay as he realized that Padmé and Aayla must have gotten along well.  Aayla knew far too many of his secrets for him to be comfortable at the idea of her becoming friends with Padmé.

“How are we getting to Naboo?”  Anakin asked.

“There were several ideas proposed,” Padmé said, “the favored idea was that the Chancellor would arrange space for us on a courier ship heading straight to Naboo.  Just us, and the pilot.”

Something about that didn’t feel right, Anakin thought, he paused for a moment to see if it was just his instinctive reaction to someone else piloting a ship, but that wasn’t all of it.  “Whose plan is this?”

“The Chancellor,” Padmé said with a slight shrug.

Anakin nodded, “Who all knows this plan?”

“The Chancellor, Captain Typho, Master Vos, and the two of us know, or will know, the specifics.”  Padmé replied, “Anakin, what’s wrong.”

Anakin pressed his lips together for a moment, “The Chancellor isn’t piloting your ship, so there’s a pilot and co-pilot who know, and probably the Chancellor’s assistant, and whomever is providing the ship.  Those people we don’t know, or know how to track down.  If that bounty hunter is serious in finding you, he could probably find someone to bribe there.”

“Are you sure?”  Padmé asked.

“I’ve seen it,” Anakin said, remembering the diplomatic mission when he was seventeen, how an assassin had found otherwise loyal staff and managed to get in close to the Prime Minister they had been working with.  “It might not even be money.  People do crazy things for the beings they love.”

“What do you suggest then?” Padmé asked.

Anakin tilted his head a little as Captain Typho came in.  “I don’t really know, but do you still use decoys at all?”

“Not like when I was queen,” Padmé said, “but Sabé is here, and Elle, although Elle isn’t as good a replacement for me.”

Anakin nodded, “We may take advantage of that, but I don’t think we should take the Chancellor up on his offer of a ship.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” Captain Typho asked.

Anakin closed his eyes, listening to the Force, “When the Senator told me about the ship, I had a feeling like it was a terrible danger to her.”  He turned to Padmé, “I don’t know what’s going on, Padmé, but I am certain that if you get on that ship, something very bad is going to happen.”

“But the Chancellor,” Padmé said, weakly.

“I know,” Anakin said, “he’s my friend too.  But like I said, his people, the ones who will make this happen, they could have been turned to another’s purpose, or not even realize they’ve done it.”

“Then we do something else,” Padmé said.

“I’ll go on the Chancellor’s ship,” Sabé said as she put a tray on the coffee table, “I’m not afraid.”

“If it’s dangerous for me,” Padmé began, and Anakin knew it was a very bad idea to agree to this.

“My lady, I made a promise,” Sabé protested.

The doorbell to the apartment went off.  Anakin dropped his hand to his lightsaber as Typho pulled his blaster.  “Get the door, Sabé,” Padmé said, producing a hold-out blaster.  Anakin stood up, freeing his saber and holding it slightly behind his leg.

“It’s Senator Bail Organa,” Sabé announced.

“Let him in,” Padmé said.

Anakin stayed standing as the Senator came in, he’d met the man a few times in Obi-Wan’s company, but he wasn’t going to trust his instincts on this.  He had someone to protect this time.

“Padmé, I’m glad I didn’t miss you,” Senator Organa said as he came in.

“Bail,” Padmé said, stepping past Anakin and taking Organa’s hands in her own.  “I haven’t told anyone I was leaving.”

“The Vice Chancellor told me,” Organa said, “I don’t know that I agree with the way he said it.”

“What do you mean?” Padmé asked.

“I don’t think you’re acting out of fear,” Organa said, “and he seemed to imply just that.”

Anakin swayed as the Force surged, and Padmé sputtered at the suggestion.  “Maybe it’s not a move out of fear,” Anakin said as he pieced together the Force’s meaning, “but I have an idea.  Senator Organa, perhaps you’d be willing to help us.”

Organa eyed him a moment, “Let’s hear what you’re thinking, Padawan Skywalker.  I’ll see what I can do.”

With the dawn came the summons to a council meeting.  Why Aayla was surprised by that, she didn’t know.  What didn’t surprise her was Quin’s insistence that Aayla attend the meeting because she had been the one to chase and identify Zam Wessel.  Quinlan Vos was a brave man, who trusted the Force and was skilled in many ways, but he would do anything to get out of meeting with the Council.  When Aayla agreed to extend her working partnership with Quin after her knighting, no less than four councilmembers had warned her that Quin had offered to get out of attending meetings.

So it was that Aayla, the most not-a-morning-Jedi in the Temple, knew, when Quin told her there was a council meeting, exactly what was going to happen.

“I just want you to know,” Aayla told Quin as she checked her outfit and glared at the way he lounged on the side chair with a cup of caff, “I am a Jedi, and that is the only reason I will not say that I hate you.”

“But Aayla,” Quin protested, “You know you’re very good at these, these, things.  Nobody gets mad at you when you jump off balconies into speeders and explain that it was the fastest route out to get to the target.”

Aayla picked up her lightsaber and balanced it on her palm, “That’s probably because I tend to let you jump into speeders.  I drive them.”  She pushed her lekku over her shoulders, silently but sternly ordering them to keep still.  Sometimes having lekku was like screaming your every emotion to the world, and Aayla had spent years working on her control.  It was hard to present an aura of serene Jedi when your lekku twitched from agitation.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to be late,” Aayla added, giving her master a respectful bow.

“Go ahead,” Quin waved the hand not holding his caff.  “I’ll just be sitting here, watching the Senator, sipping caff.”

Aayla decided that she was going to make him do the reports for this mission.  There had been some comments by the Council about too many reports under her codes lately.  Time for Quin to catch up his share.

When she got to the Temple, Aayla’s temper wasn’t improved and only constant attention kept her lekku from screaming her frustration to the world.  Morning traffic between the Temple District and Senate District was an exercise in utter frustration.  Still, she spent the long lift ride releasing her emotions into the Force, rebalancing her emotions for the Council meeting.  As she left the lift, Aayla wasn’t exactly surprised that Anakin was waiting in the hallway, but she did wonder at the lack of Kenobi with him.  A blaster graze shouldn’t have kept Kenobi in the Halls this long.

Anakin gave her a smile and a cup of caff when she reached his side.  

“Bless you and your ancestors,” Aayla mumbled as she took a drink, and promptly burned the roof of her mouth.

“You’re welcome,” Anakin replied.  “It’s not fair that we aren’t allowed a chance to get a full eight hours, I know.”

“Sleep when you’re dead,” Aayla said, “I had to miss breakfast because of the traffic.”

Whatever Anakin might have said was cut off by the opening of the doors to the Council Room.  Aayla straightened up, but made no effort to hide the cup.

“If you two are ready?” Master Windu said, his eyes lingering on Aayla’s cup.  She pointedly drank some more, keeping her expression bland.  Anakin made a very good cup of caff.

“Yes Master,” Aayla said with a bow.

“Master Windu,” Anakin said with a shallow bow before the pair followed Master Windu into the room.

Masters Yoda, Koon, Mundi, Gallia, and Ti were waiting for them.  Aayla was amused to note that Master Shaak Ti’s lekku were twitching to convey her jealousy when she saw what Aayla was carrying.  Still, she made sure to keep from conveying her own smug superiority.

“Good morning Masters,” Anakin said with a half bow.

“Good morning Padawan Skywalker, Knight Secura,” Master Koon said.

“Good morning, Master Koon,” Aayla replied, ducking her head.

“I understand you had an eventful evening,” Master Mundi said, eying her cup with distaste.  Aayla knew that the Cerulean didn’t drink caff, but didn’t seem inclined to protest its presence.  “The Senator is well?”

“Yes Master,” Aayla said, “short on sleep, but that’s to be expected.”

“Indeed,” Master Gallia said, “I have just had a long and illuminating conversation with Chancellor Palpatine.  It’s too dangerous for Senator Amidala to remain on Coruscant in light of this newest attack.  Instead, Chancellor Palpatine is intending to order her to return to Naboo and appoint a representative in her stead.”

“Master, what does that mean for Master Vos and I?”  Aayla asked, not that she would complain if they ordered her to stay with Padmé, but the hunt was on.  She’d chased one of her targets down, and the other was waiting for her.  As the caff worked it’s magic on her energy levels, Aayla was feeling more and more determined to get in on the chase.

“You will pursue the information you have on the people behind the assassinations while Anakin will escort Senator Amidala to Naboo.”  Master Windu announced.  

Aayla couldn’t quite keep her lekku from conveying her excitement at the idea, although all she did was bow her head.

“Me?”  Anakin said, actually sounding startled and a little panicked, “Alone?”

Master Windu nodded, “The Healers wish for Master Kenobi to stay on light duty for another day, given both his injury and general exhaustion.  This is well within your capabilities, Padawan Skywalker.”

Aayla kept her face serene when Anakin looked at her, face pale and eyes wide.  It would be his first solo mission, so his unease was probably warranted, but Aayla had started working solo when she was sixteen.  Anakin had all the training he needed to do this, he just needed experience.  As Aayla finished her drink, she reflected that not having a crush on Padmé Amidala would probably have eased his emotional upset too.

“Yes, Master Windu,” Anakin said finally.

“Is there a problem, Padawan Skywalker?”  Master Mundi asked.  Aayla eyed the Cerulean, wondering what his actual opinion was of Anakin, and how he would react if he knew about Anakin’s feelings.  She had the impression that he wasn’t as fond of Anakin as some of the others.

Anakin blushed and ducked his head, “Not exactly, Master Mundi.  I just think it will be difficult for Senator Amidala to take me seriously when her dominant memories of me are as a nine-year-old sand rat with an embarrassing crush.”

“Then consider it a part of the challenge,” Master Mundi said, “to prove yourself to someone who has only known you as a child.”  Aayla blinked as she realized that the Master was actually trying to help Anakin, although it was very subtle.  A glance at Anakin, and she thought he’d missed the point, even if the advice would help.

Anakin bowed, “I understand Master.”

“Knight Secura, do you anticipate any troubles yourself?”  Master Windu asked.

“No Master,” Aayla said bowing her head slightly, “Master Vos and I are looking forward to the hunt.”

“Then we release you to your duties.”  Master Windu said, “May the Force be with you.”

Aayla bowed, with Anakin a beat behind, before they turned to walk way.

“Skywalker,” Master Windu called.

“Master?”  Anakin asked.

“I am glad your mother is safe.  Please pass on our wishes for her speedy recovery.”

Anakin froze for a long moment, and then bowed, “I will do so, Master.”

Then he all but bolted out of the council chamber, with Aayla following curiously. Unfortunately, Anakin had managed to disappear with rather unseemly haste before Aayla could pin him down. She filed the strange comment away in the back of her mind and went on to the next step of her morning’s task list, namely, breakfast.