Silently counting to himself, Obi marked the last seconds of the clone
troopers lives.  3 - 2 - 1 ..the command section lurched violently forward
as the blast of the release bolt propelled the cabin away from the engine
pod and his battle mates.  Watching from the breach in the side of the
bridge, Obi saw the engine pod erupt in a blinding and yet beautiful
detonation, brightening the sky for the entire sector.  Moments later the
command hull rang with the sound of debris colliding into the cabin, a last
epitaph of Cody's sacrifice.  The fate of the two remaining occupants was
still undetermined, Obi knew.  He was unable to alter the trajectory of the
ship now, and he had no idea where they would end up.  It would only be by
the will of the force that they land somewhere habitable, alive, and able to
summon help.  Even now, the odds were immeasurably against them both.  The
Jedi master watched helplessly as the stars spiraled past in an uncontrolled
course.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-



NEW: (Joint post! :-)



While Obi-wan Kenobi struggled to maintain atmospheric controls, C-3PO made
his way through the hazy environment of the ship's bridge towards one of the
control panels situated near the main engineering station.  The droid's
primary function had of course been in protocol but he was also programmed
to interact with virtually every sort of computer created and, not
particularly fond of the fact that they were now passengers on an unguided
space vessel, he decided to try and interact with the ship's central brain
to see if he could remedy the situation.



"Master Kenobi," the droid couldn't hide the excitement in his voice, "the
ship has informed me that its computer processors were designed to be
redundant. The bridge main computer is backed up with the one in
engineering, or where engineering used to be," the droid amended. "These
dual processors operate in parallel with one another, so the main computer
is able to take over thruster control. I should be able to cross-program one
of the control panels on the bridge to activate thruster circuits.  However,
one of the directional thrusters was destroyed in the blast. We can only
turn in one direction, so we have only one chance at steering the ship
towards a safe haven.

I have been able to ascertain that we are near the Aramand Cluster of the
Brak system.  There is one habitable planet there however, but it is mostly
ice covered.  Yet, it is capable of sustaining humanoid life."





Obi clasped one arm around Padme's waist to hold her up as he fought the
burned life support controls, taking in C-3PO's situation report.  "Oh yes,
it may sustain us, but I'll bet we won't enjoy it!" came the sardonic reply
as the cabin repressurized with fresh air.  "Do your best, 3PO, we have to
get the ship down soon.  I don't know how much longer the force fields are
going to hold.  If they let go you'll be the only one left to tell the
  tale."



"Master Kenobi, you must understand, I'm really only a protocol droid, and
not very adept at machine language subroutines, this will be a very
difficult----"



"THREEPIO!!!"  Obi exploded, "I don't care HOW you get us to the planet JUST
DO IT!!"  The events of the past few minutes finally taxed the Jedi master's
patience past his limit.



"Very well, sir.." the metallic bot answered resignedly.  A few seconds of
button pushing were rewarded with an exclamation of joy, or what passed for
joy in a protocol droid.  "Master Kenobi, we have attitude control again, I
have managed to adjust our course to enter a descending orbit around Planet
Sera.



Suddenly Obi remembered the reason for their predicament.  "3PO, is there
any sign the enemy vessel?"



The protocol droid-turned-engineer paused for a moment as he examined the
tactical readouts of the remaining display station.  "It appears sir that
they have been destroyed in the engine pod explosion.  This certainly has
been a tragic voyage for everyone concerned," he tisked.



"Sometimes the force has a way of leveling the playing field after all," Obi
replied, not feeling overly remorseful at the enemy's demise.  The only
regret he felt was not finding out who was on that ship and who was behind
the whole event...





Padmé found herself immensely thankful for the shoulder she leaned upon,
desperately needing its strength as she gasped air into her lungs.  She was
aware of the conversation between her droid and Master Kenobi but it was as
though a vast distance separated them, making their voices sound hollow to
her ears. Everything around the senator had taken on dream-like status as
she struggled to regain full consciousness.

It was Obi-wan's shout at 3PO which seemed to stir the senator fully awake,
and she looked up at the Jedi master with surprise written on her features.

Removing the respirator covering her nose Padmé remained silent for a few
moments longer as the ship's other two passengers continued speaking, also
taking those brief moments to regain her equilibrium.

"I'll be alright now," she informed the Jedi after a few precious moments
had passed.  "Do what you have to do."

Knowing that the best possible assistance she could give at this point was
to simply stay out of their way, Padmé returned to her seat and waited
quietly to see what Fate had in store for them...





A bright spot on the crackling view screen grew ever so slightly larger, and
then as the moments passed the planet grew larger more rapidly, becoming
apparent that this must be the Planet Sera they were approaching.  Obi
manned the navigational controls, as gingerly as possible adding in the
slightest course corrections as he watched the gimbals swinging wildly.  If
they didn't end as a smoking heap on the ground it would be the biggest
miracle in this part of the galaxy for ages to come.



"We're entering the planet's atmosphere," 3PO announced unnecessarily, the
buffeting of the ship arriving before the update from the droid.



"Buckle in everyone, this is going to get a little rough!"  Obi announced
through gritted teeth as he struggled to keep from being thrown from his
chair.  The turbulence of the planet's atmosphere became a deafening roar as
they rocketed ever lower, glowing nearly white hot from the friction of the
air.



"There seems to be a nearly level plateau approximately three kilometers
ahead!"  3PO shouted, hoping his alert was heard by the General.



"Got it!" was Obi's clipped reply as he continued to operated the navigation
controls, hoping they would not end up smeared across the landscape.  The
cabin streaked only a few meters above the surface now but its speed was
still excessive.  There was no way to counteract it, Obi knew.  They were at
the mercy of the force now.  The ship glanced off an outcropping of rocks,
throwing the occupants inside the ship like rag dolls.  The sudden decrease
of speed caused the ship to lower to the surface again, bouncing up and down
repeatedly, finally staying on the ground in a grinding skid until the three
were thrown to the front of the cabin as the ship came to a stop.

"Well, any landing you can walk away from is a good landing they say!"  Obi
joked, trying to shake off the concussion he received on the first impact.
Is everyone all right..?"





It was, by far, the worst experience of her life, Padmé decided, as her
fingers dug a white-knuckled grip into the arms of her chair.  Fear wasn't
the worst of it; she had been afraid before.  It was the feeling of
helplessness that was hard to come to terms with. It was difficult to just
sit there and watch what was happening. She envied Master Kenobi's calm
trust and reliance upon the Force.



Suddenly, after a tremendous amount of shuddering and near nose dives into
the crust of the planet, the ship came to a screeching halt with enough
force that they were thrown forward from their chairs.

Padmé instinctively curled up into a ball, using her arms to protect her
head.

"You call that a landing?"  She joked wryly in response to Obi's question,
slowly coming to a sitting position as she glanced over at the Jedi master.



"You're hurt," the senator added in the next breath, her tone somber as she
noticed a deep cut on Obi-wan's left temple.  It was hard to tell how bad
the injury was; most head wounds tended to bleed profusely.  Stranded as
they were however, they couldn't afford to take chances with any sort of
injury.  A quick glance around the bridge area informed the senator that
there was nothing in the way of medical supplies available; in fact there
wasn't much of a bridge left at all.  "Here," she reached down to rip a
length of material from the bottom of her skirt and gently tied it around
Obi-wan's forehead to stop the bleeding.  "That will have to do for now,"
the senator apologized.  "I wish we had something to put on that, something
to ward off infection. After we get an encampment of sorts set up, I'll see
about cleaning the wound with some warm water."



She hadn't heard 3PO mention it either way, but she certainly hoped the
planet was inhabited, and that those indigenous creatures were friendly.
They would need help.





*Two people & a droid*



Sera is a make-believe world lol which we, when thinking up a name first
thought about calling it Ork!

(Ok you have to have been around in the 70s to get that!)



Then we thought, how about Planet Spaceball??!! or Planet Hollywood??!!
Heeheehee ;-)



The Aramand Cluster of the Brak system however is a 'real' place according
to my SW's galaxy map!!!!

NEW:  (ooc; somehow I managed to lose Miranda's earlier post :( but we can
soldier on I think! being that I'm too lazy to check the board for it lol)


Inara quickly made her way through the crowd which had gathered beneath the
speakers to listen to the news.  She of all people knew how dreadful and
debilitating a virus could be, having seen first hand what atrocities could
be created by those who claimed they were working in the name of science.
The reporter didn't specify, but she had a pretty good idea that this was
not a naturally created disease.  It had spread far too quickly and was too
wide-spread for that.

"It's got to be a Separatist ploy, what else?" One of the refugees remarked
angrily.  "What I don't understand is why the Jedi aren't willing to admit
it.
I've seen, first-hand, what those bastards can do.  Let's face it, the Seps.
are made up mainly of droids and non-humans.  We've been told that this
virus attacks humanoids primarily.  It doesn't take a genius to figure out
where it came from.  The Jedi should be doing something."

"The Jedi are doing something," Inara's soft voice broke into the
conversation.  Whatever else she intended to say never had the chance to
cross her lips for another creature interrupted her.

"We need to do something to protect ourselves.  How can we rely on the Jedi
when there aren't enough of them to go around?  I know what's gonna happen,"
he addressed the entire crowd, "the Seps. are going to attack Coruscant, and
soon.  What better time than now, when the whole planet is worried about
this virus?  The Seps are bound to turn this distraction to their own
advantage.  I say we storm the Jedi Temple and demand answers."

Someone else in the crowd chuckled.
"Storm the Jedi Temple? Just that like?  Do you really think they'd even let
us get that far?
Have you been that way recently? There are legions of clones around the
joint all of the time!
No one would be able to enter the temple through all of that and it's even
worse at the Senate, in case you were going to name that as your next
target," the male replied sarcastically.

Inara wisely let them get all of their emotions out of their systems.  She
knew it was necessary for them to express what they were feeling, as long as
it didn't go too far.

"I don't care what you say," the earlier creature responded, "I'm going to
the temple and demand they hand over that vaccine."

"They're already in the process of distributing the anti-dote," Inara tried
to calmly explain.

"That's what they say, but we've already seen that they've lied to us
before.  How can we trust them now?  I'm going!" With that, he roughly
shoved aside the other human who had been arguing with him.

The man grabbed his opponent by the arm and spun him to the ground.
That seemed to be the catalyst which started a division between those on
both sides of the argument and before Inara could safely step in, small
fights began to break out all over the beautifully sweeping grounds of
Haven.

"I need your help," Inara kept her eye on the crowd, but pulled Miranda
aside.  "This is getting too far out of hand.  Do you think you can make it
to the temple?  Explain to the guards what's going on over here.  If you
specifically mention my name and the fact that I am well acquainted with
Master Yoda, they should let you in.
We need a Jedi presence here, if at all possible, to show these fools that
something IS being down about the virus.  I'd go myself, but I have to stay
here and try to calm these creatures down if I can."

"I'll go with you," Raine spoke up, smiling over at Miranda, her warm brown
eyes full of concern.

*Inara & Raine*

As he skipped along he heard the whistle, the one he still felt he'd
been responsible for creating in the first place...despite a certain group
of girls also being near a certain bird and around the corner...but he'd
still copied it first.

Either way that wasn't the point now and Treyton quickly made haste over to
the clump of grass it came from, "See" he told her with a smirk, "Told ya
sneaking away would be a cinch for me".
-=-=-=-=-=-=-

NEW:  (OOC: As always Annie-girl, not to skip past Trey. Stick him in where
the urge strikes.  I just needed to get them to a certain place with all of
this!)


Ahsoka nodded her approval for the quick way in which Treyton had not only
escaped camp but found her so quickly.

She came to her feet, glancing in the direction which Trey had come, but the
encampment was too far away to be seen.

Without saying a word, the tiny Togruta moved off in the opposite direction
indicating, with another nod of the head, that her friend follow her.

It was fun to be stealthy, but it was necessary too because they knew that
the Seps. were somewhere on Shili.

Ahsoka didn't think the Seps. would be all that close though because she
figured the clones were smart enough not to land their own ships near the
enemy.


This little covert excursion was important to her.  Ahsoka knew that she and
Treyton had out and out disobeyed a direct order from Rex, so she wanted to
have the chance to do something important to prove herself so that hopefully
the clone captain wouldn't be too mad when they came back to camp.  And
besides, how could a body prove themselves if they were never allowed to go
out alone and get things done?!


The mid afternoon's heat was warm against her back, and she could smell the
aroma from a vast variety of the different sorts of plant-life native to her
birth-world.

She didn't truly have a specific destination in mind, but planned on
checking things out for several clicks around. That way, when they returned
to camp, the younglings could make a report to Captain Rex.

He just couldn't be mad at them then, Ahsoka figured, because they would
bring valuable news about the surrounding area.

<>

Unknown to the younglings, for her presence was carefully shielded by the
Force; malevolent eyes kept track of their every movement.

That these creatures were but children was, without a doubt, apparent to
Ventress as she stood some distance away, examining and trying to find a
reason for their actions.

It seemed almost unconscionable to her that the Jedi would let their little
ones run free on a planet where they must have known enemy forces inhabited.

From the way they moved, it was also clear that the younglings were on some
sort of scouting mission.  Leave it to the Jedi to send babies to do their
dirty work!

It was typical of the craven nature she believed all Jedi possessed.
Extremely foolish on their part as well, for it made her task that much
easier, provided of course, that the Jedi would care enough to come looking
for their own.  From what Asajj had seen, that was doubtful, but it was a
chance she would take.  This opportunity was too good to pass up, and if it
turned out that none of the cowardly Jedi Order attempted to rescue the
children, Ventress had two options left her.  She could simply eliminate the
babies or, if she found they had even the slightest true Force-ability, it
was be a simple task to turn them; show them that there were other points of
view besides the narrow mindedness of the Jedi; and in time they would come
to thank her for releasing them from the brainwashing they'd been subject to
the moment they'd been stolen from their true families and caged inside the
Jedi Temple.

But that was all in good time.

For now she would test them, and then, she would use them as bait.

<>

"Something isn't," Ahsoka turned to look over at her friend and saw the
concerned expression on Treyton's face (ok?) as well.

"There's," the tiny Togruta had just enough time to pause, her large eyes
taking in the entire area surrounding them, training 'saber floating
automatically into her right hand, before they found themselves encircled by
what looked like a countless number of battle droids.  "I guess the captain
was right," she mumbled, even as blaster bolts headed their way and she
began to help deflect them, "maybe we should have stayed with our escorts."

There was little enough they could do except position themselves back to
back as they reflected back the red laser blasts from the droids' weaponry.
"It seems like I'm always getting you into trouble, Trey and I'm really
sorry for that."  She continued.  It might have seemed strange that anyone
would even want to talk during a battle like this one but in truth it helped
Ahsoka to focus.  Besides, so far, these were only first edition battle
droids and a fairly easy challenge for most younglings.  They were very
similar to the practice droids that children in the temple initially honed
their 'saber skills on.  It was the sheer number of droids however that
worried the Togruta somewhat.  But they were doing a fairly good job, she
was happy to note, watching as droid parts began to fall to the ground
around them.  Some had come close enough for their 'sabers to actually
cleave in two, while others came crashing down due to the droids' own
blaster-fire ricocheting off of the glowing edge of the younglings'
lightsabers.


The fact that she and Treyton worked so well together surprised and pleased
Ahsoka all at the same time.  It was almost as though they read each other's
minds, still standing back to back for protection yet turning when necessary
in order to continue to meet wave upon wave of battle droids.

"I guess Master Yoda was right," she commented through a tiring yet somewhat
excited voice, "if we just let the Force guide us.." Her words were cut
short however when the front lines of the enemy made way for another group
behind them.  This time the larger Super Battle Droids approached in that
slowly methodical and menacing manner they had.  Still, as Ahsoka reminded
herself, they were only droids and not very bright.  She also had to admit
that, although she was scared, there was another part of her which enjoyed
the fight immensely.  Even if, she grimaced suddenly, enjoying any sort of a
fight wasn't very Jedi-like at all.

"Round two," as all she said, changing her stance slightly to put her 'saber
above her head, as the SBDs began to open fire.

(ooc: leaving room for Treyton and then... ;-)


After a few moments and without any apparent reason as far as Ahsoka could
tell, the battle droids lowered their weapons and everything around them
grew silent.

She didn't trust this silence however and remained in her guarded stance;
eyes never leaving the enemy.

Ahsoka watched as the droids lines suddenly parted again, and she prepared
herself for some other nastier version of droid to appear.

What she saw though, was even worse, for she could sense something very NOT
right in the sinewy creature who approached.

"Hello children," the creature's smooth voice greeted them, even as she
reached one graceful arm forward, and before either youngling could even
blink, this strange visitor was holding both of their weapons in her hands.
"Cute," Ventress remarked caustically as she looked down at the training
sabers, "but not very effective," she sighed pointedly.  "How surprising
that the Jedi would let you out, all alone, with only these," she held the
'sabers out to them, but still too far away for them to physically grasp,
"to protect you."


"Come with me."
Without another word, Asajj motioned for the droids to form a circle around
the children, as she lead the way, moving forward for several clicks, until
they eventually arrived at the base of a large mountain.

"Up there," she indicated that the two younglings set out ahead of her, and
the droids stood prepared to enforce those orders if necessary.

Ahsoka scowled, having spent their entire journey trying to find some way to
escape, but there were just too many droids and that evil bald-headed witch
had their lightsabers anyway.  There was no way they could hope to even
begin to defend themselves without their weapons, not against that many
droids.  "We'll get out of this, somehow," she whispered to Treyton as they
began to scramble up the hill.  There were roughly hewn steps made of stone
along the path, but it was still a very steep and long climb.

Eventually they reached the entrance to a large duracrete building.
Ahsoka felt something grab her upper arm and she was pushed aside as one of
the droids activated the mechanism on the door and they swung open.

The droid still had a vice-like grip on her arm and she noticed that Treyton
was being subjected to the same sort of treatment, as they were ushered none
too gently inside.  The double doors closed behind with an ominous echoing
sound.


"Over there," the strange white-skinned female pointed towards yet another
room and they had no choice but to allow themselves to be escorted into an
area, Ahsoka noted with dismay, looked uncomfortably like a scientific
laboratory of some sort.

"In there," Ventress nodded towards the droids who still held the younglings
by their arms.  They obeyed instantly, steeling themselves automatically in
case their prisoners tried to put up a fight.

<>



"Why are we here?"
Ahsoka managed to ask in spite of her fear, pressing the palms of her hands
up against the blue force-field behind which she now stood.
The droids had deposited them into separate containers, tall rounded and
narrow tubes which were situated on slightly domed platforms.
She could not find a way to breach this prison however, so she turned to her
captor, demanding answers.


"Don't worry child." Came the too smooth reply.  "I don't make war on
children unless it suits my purpose.
If you must know, and I certainly see no harm in telling you, a
very...interesting Jedi is on his way to Shili to find you.
I intend to make sure that he does."


With a final nod to one of the medical droids that had approached the area,
Ventress indicated that it set the force-field controls to a pre-indicated
setting.  It sent small jolts of electrical energy through the barriers
which now held
each youngling; uncomfortable and painful but not yet deadly.

That should get the Jedi's attention when he arrived.


*Ahsoka and Asajj*

Brain fart! --  No that's not the movie!!

Was it from Galaxy Quest!? I'm drawing a blank and now I GOTTA KNOW!!!

*Scared Padme', who was hoping Obi would have had to administer some mouth
to mouth resuscitation!*




----- Original Message -----
From: "Ani Lil" <ani_lil@...>

OOC: Up a creek?! I'll say you are, if I may borrow a quote from a formerly
mentioned also awesome movie "You broke the bloody ship!" (not sure if that
quote is direct or not but maybe you get the point LOL)

LMAO!
You two KILL me!!

I swear you were brother and sister in a past life!
Or maybe even in THIS one!!!

heheheh

(%)(%)(%)



----- Original Message -----

Eh, don't worry, they're like potato chips....we can make more!

  Frito-Obi


  On Oct 8, 2009, Jennifer Baldwin <gavinlbpf@...> wrote:

  Oh great get all my clones killed! I see how this is working out! Mental
note to Anakin: Don't let your master lead a group of clones, they will get
blown up!

  Jennifer and Anakin (one in the same, right?!?)

On Oct 8, 2009, Jennifer Baldwin <gavinlbpf@...> wrote:

----- Original Message -----

From: Ani Lil

To: Approaching_Darkness@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 8:05 PM

Subject: Re: [Approaching_Darkness] OOC Guarded Association

I agree compliments on you two's superior writing skills is much overdo so...here's some cyber stretch-rope! LOL :D

Even I if I know you might have preferred cookies or brownies...but hey it's October, candy month!

~Annie

---

From: Jennifer Baldwin <gavinlbpf@...>
To: Approaching_Darkness@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2009 11:54:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Approaching_Darkness] OOC Guarded Association



More Please!!!!!! This is super awesome!

Jenn

----- Original Message -----

From: Jennifer Baldwin

To: Approaching_Darkness@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 12:54 PM

Subject: Re: [Approaching_Darkness] OOC Guarded Association

More Please!!!!!! This is super awesome!

Jenn

This unexpected encounter also brought along with it a great amount of
  trepidation however.  Keeping her marriage a secret was not something
Padme'
  enjoyed, although it was necessary.  Now, she would have to try even harder
  to keep her emotions in check because working with Anakin's former master
  brought a whole new set of difficulties for her, not the least of which was
  guilt.

  "I'm sorry I slept so long.  Will we be arriving on Naboo soon?"
---

"Ah, senator, I trust you are well rested," Obi remarked as he glanced at
the ship's chronometer.  "We should be arriving at Naboo in two hours, more
or less."  He didn't take time to look up from the tactical display station.
There was no time for idle chat or pleasantries right now, not until they
were safely landed at Theed.  "You may have a seat if you wish, or return to
your quarters until we land, your choice," Obi added in a distracted tone.



He had been watching the sensors since they left Coruscant.  All seemed well
for the first three hours, then a sensor echo appeared that no amount of
calibration or adjustment could eliminate.  He had been studying the returns
since then, trying to verify the instruments accuracy.  Secretly, Obi wished
Anakin were with him, his tactical skills were superior to his own.  It was
as though his padawan were born for battle.  Inspiration struck the Jedi
master just then.



"Pilot, I want you to plot a new course toward the dwarf sun in the next
sector, but first I want you to drop out of hyperdrive before changing
direction.  Immediately upon reaching sub-light, enter the new course and
re-engage the hyperdrive as fast as you can."



"I'll have to increase power to the inertial dampeners first General, this
will be a rough ride if we don't."  The clone pilot advised.



"No, pilot," Kenobi counter-manded, "That will reduce our maneuvering
ability.  We're just going to have to buckle in."



"Sir, may I ask why we're doing this?" the pilot inquired.



"This trip is too boring for my taste," Obi retorted.  "Stand ready."



"Aye, sir." The pilot complied.



Obi took one more look at the sensor monitor.  The echo remained, fixed as
it had been for the past few hours.  Obi flicked his comm.-link.  "Commander
Cody, tell your men to strap in, we're going to do a little high speed
acrobatics."



"General?" was the questioning acknowledgement from the clone trooper below
decks.



A quick look around the bridge revealed that Senator Amidala was still
present with a wondering look on her face.  "I'd suggest you sit down and
hang on," was Obi's only warning to her.



Bracing himself as well, Obi gave the command.  "Now, pilot!"



The ship's engines ceased the high pitched whine of the hyperdrive as the
stars shortened their streaked trails on the viewscreen, becoming pinpoints
of light as the entire contents of the vessel was thrust forward in a
painful lurch.  Apparently the pressure suit of the pilot helped him endure
the fantastic velocity drop, he was already manipulating the navi-controls
to the new heading as Obi was trying to regain the focus in his eyes.  He
had no sooner achieved equilibrium than the pilot announced, "Here we go!"
as he punched the engines back to full-throttle.  The ship rocketed off in a
new vector, gaining speed with every meter.  All of the ship now shook
violently as the bracing in the framework creaked it's complaint at the
abuse it was being given.  Obi stole a glimpse over at Padme to see how she
was enjoying the ride, only to see her eyes closed as the g-forces smashed
her back into the chair she was lashed to.



Finally, the vise-like pressure subsided from Obi's chest, enabling him to
breathe once more.   The ship was now heading for the distant, but rapidly
growing star.



"Mind if I ask why we did this, General?" the obedient but bewildered pilot
inquired.  Obi didn't respond, he was again transfixed at the sensor
readout.  It was gone, no more echo.  Now he was certain.  Looking over at
the disheveled senator, he barked, "Get back to your quarters and lock the
door!"  Snapping on the comm.-link, Obi continued.  "Commander, battle
stations!  We're going to be---"



~Tune-in-next-week,-same-bat-time,-same-bat-channel Obi~

It wasn't enough that they were flaunting a precious cargo before all who
knew what to look for in a cargo ship, now he had to be the body guard of
the ex-queen and senator of Naboo as well.  He was certain this mission was
going to end badly.  He was also certain she was the reason for so many poor
tactical decisions.  Life would be so much easier if there were no
politicians to deal with.

The comm.-link crackled.  "General, she's aboard and we're clear for
take-off."

"Very well, Commander, let's get underway.  I'll be on the bridge if you
need me."  Obi snapped off the communicator, not waiting for a response this
time.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
NEW:

A quick glance at the bedside chrono informed Padme' that she had been
asleep for several hours.  This particular transport vessel did not have the
speed capabilities of a sleeker ship such as her personal cruiser, so she
knew that it would be a few more hours before they arrived on Naboo.

Sitting up on the sleep couch, she swung her legs over the side and tried to
stretch some of the stiffness from her muscles.  In spite of the fact that
every inch of her body seemed to ache, the senator smiled.  The time she had
spent with Anakin more than made up for the weariness she was experiencing
now.  She doubted if either one of them had slept more than a total of two
hours last night.  She hoped that Anakin had somehow managed to catch some
sleep before or while in route to Shili.

C3PO's metallic face greeted the senator as she rose from her bed.
He brought her a ration package which she was only too grateful to accept.
Apparently spending time with one's husband also gave a person an incredible
appetite.

Finishing the simple nutrition cake, Padme' quickly washed it down with a
glass of water and freshened up at the room's small sink before slipping
into some clean clothing.  It wasn't possible, on a ship such as this one,
to actually have the luxury of a full shower, so she would make do until
arriving home.

"Well," she glanced over at the droid Anakin had given her, "I suppose I
should go and greet my escort," Padme' grimaced.  She would have preferred
making this trip on her own, but the Chancellor wouldn't hear of it,
insisting that her safety was his utmost concern.

Making her way to the bridge, thankful that 3PO already knew the way, the
senator nodded to two clones who had taken up position near the rear
computer consoles.  There was another clone in the pilot's seat and the Jedi
assigned to escort her was sitting at what she assumed was the ship's
tactical station.  He turned to face her as she walked into the room.

"Master Kenobi," she was more than a little pleasantly surprised to discover
that he was the one chosen to escort her.  Padme' and Obi-wan's relationship
went back several years and she had always admired and trusted him.

This unexpected encounter also brought along with it a great amount of
trepidation however.  Keeping her marriage a secret was not something Padme'
enjoyed, although it was necessary.  Now, she would have to try even harder
to keep her emotions in check because working with Anakin's former master
brought a whole new set of difficulties for her, not the least of which was
guilt.

"I'm sorry I slept so long.  Will we be arriving on Naboo soon?"

*Mrs. ... Ah, I mean...Padme ;-) *

Two white-clad clones greeted her when she came aboard and gathered her few
bags, stashing them in the room where she would sleep, before taking her to
  the cargo hold so that she could make certain that the vaccine had been
  delivered.
  After which, she returned to her sleeping quarters to get some much needed
  rest.
--------------------------------



"Commander, make sure you inform me when the pre-flight is complete and the
senator is aboard."  Obi clicked the wrist comm. tuned to the clone squadron
leader.



"Roger that, General."  The electronically filtered voice returned in the
most concise reply.  All those clone voices sounded the same through those
helmets, he mused.  He could never tell who he was talking to.  For all he
knew the squad quartermaster had answered him.  Obi poured over the latest
intelligence provided by the Jedi council on the whereabouts of rogues and
pirates along the shipping lanes between Coruscant and Naboo, looking for
the most likely, and maybe not-so-likely places for an ambush along the way.
He wasn't thrilled with the tactical operation of this mission, this
seasoned veteran of many battles.  The jedi master was convinced that simply
taking the vaccine on a common freighter would have been the wisest choice,
with the republic scout ship and a Jedi escort with clone troopers he felt
certain they were asking for trouble along the way.



It wasn't enough that they were flaunting a precious cargo before all who
knew what to look for in a cargo ship, now he had to be the body guard of
the ex-queen and senator of Naboo as well.  He was certain this mission was
going to end badly.  He was also certain she was the reason for so many poor
tactical decisions.  Life would be so much easier if there were no
politicians to deal with.



The comm.-link crackled.  "General, she's aboard and we're clear for
take-off."



"Very well, Commander, let's get underway.  I'll be on the bridge if you
need me."  Obi snapped off the communicator, not waiting for a response this
time.



~Perturbed Obi~

One particular ship, now leaving Coruscanti orbit, manned with all the clone
troops the Republic could spare, which wasn't a lot, was also occupied by
the senator of Naboo and the vaccine she was delivering to her people, plus
one Jedi Master.



Health representatives from each planet in the Core and Mid Rims were
responsible to see to it that the vaccine was delivered to their
home-worlds.  Where cases indicated it and if at all possible, the Jedi
Council had also assigned clone escorts to these vehicles.  The risk of
Separatist intervention was too great to take chances.  However, there was
also a war going on and troops, as well as the Jedi themselves, were already
scattered so thin.



Those in more specific danger continued to be members of the Galactic Senate
itself and any flights taken by these individuals also demanded the
protection of a competent Jedi.



Padme' didn't know who had been assigned to escort her; she only knew that
the one Jedi that she wanted desperately to be with had flown off in the
opposite direction just a handful of hours ago.



By the time she entered the ship; the clones were already onboard and had
done all the pre-flight preparation.  She felt uncomfortable with the
situation.  She, perhaps more than the rest of her colleagues, knew all too
well the constant demands made upon the Jedi and she hated to be the cause
of taking one of their own from where he or she was so badly needed, to act
as her personal body guard.



But neither could she leave the distribution of the vaccine to her people in
someone else's hands.  She need to be there, not only to answer the
inevitable questions, but to be assured, beyond all doubt, that Naboo was
safe.



Two white-clad clones greeted her when she came aboard and gathered her few
bags, stashing them in the room where she would sleep, before taking her to
the cargo hold so that she could make certain that the vaccine had been
delivered.
After which, she returned to her sleeping quarters to get some much needed
rest.



*Pads*

Taking her face in his hands, he placed small kisses on her lips and then
her cheeks. "I want you," he said looking at her. His hand slipped between
her legs and he teased her through the underwear she had somehow found from
the romp they had the night before.
-=-=-=-=-=-

NEW:

She stood on the balcony after he left, watching the new morning daylight as
it washed over the City.  Padme' knew that it would be difficult to let him
go, but she hadn't realized to what extent.

Having grown up the way she did, and the career choices she had made, Padme'
had rarely been alone.  In fact, those times where she could grab some time
to herself were special to her.  But up until that moment when she watched
Anakin walk slowly out of her apartment, she never knew what true loneliness
felt like.  His absence already left a deep aching hole in her heart.

When she was with him she felt so alive and now that he was gone, a part of
her was missing too.

She was trying to be brave; had tried to be brave when she hurriedly packed
some food for him to take eat on the way to Shili; had tried to be brave
when she walked him to the door.  And she had tried to be brave when he
kissed her good-bye, holding back her tears so they would not be the last
thing he remembered of her.

But when those doors closed shut behind him, she let the tears roll freely
down her cheeks.

After taking one last look up at the sky, although it was impossible to spot
the ship Anakin would be piloting, Padme' left the balcony and began to
prepare for the day.  She would have to leave a note for Kishara, telling
her friend where she had gone, and then she needed to throw some things
together in a travel bag to take to Naboo.

*P*

TBC

<<A few minutes should do it he told himself and just settled to listening
to the quiet chirping of the birds and such. That mixed with the exotic
smell of the flora (ooc: that one is plants right...'cause we think the
exotic smell of the other one stinks! :D) >>

LMAO! You crack me UP, girl!
Yes! Flora is the right word; it's where we get the word floral from and
fauna is easy to remember if you think of a fawn (animal)!!
lol

"We best at least pretend to take a short a nap or such as we can manage,
though so our requests don't start looking suspicious and dogey already" he
went on, glancing to the two escorts again...

-=-=-=-=-=-

NEW:


"Well," the small female thought about everything Treyton had said and
decided that, for a boy and a human at that, he wasn't all that dim-witted!
So, she took his advice and curled up on the stone-hard sleep couch,
pretending to take a nap.  As she did so her thoughts wandered towards the
awesome fact that she was
actually finally on her birth-world.  Master Ti had told her so much about
Shili and even though she had been taken from there at a young age, it still
felt like home.

She could hear the varied sounds of numerous birds as they skittered across
the sky, busy with their everyday tasks.  She could detect the salty smell
of the red and white turu-grass wafting in
the gentle breeze.  These simple things, discovered with the most basic of
senses, stirred something almost primitive inside her.  Ahsoka felt that,
for a brief moment anyway, she was connected with every
bit of nature which surrounded her. That made it almost impossible for her
to stay inside the tent.  She felt the overwhelming need to explore as much
of this world as possible, to become part of Shili in a very real way.  So
she didn't feign sleep for as long as she had originally planned on doing.


Rising from the cot, she stretched her arms over her head and yawned loudly
just in case Trey had actually fallen asleep.
The Togruta then approached Ari who was still standing just inside the tent
flap.
He didn't look like he had moved one centimeter in all that time.

"Fresher," she remarked with another exaggerated yawn.  "Then I'm gonna'
grab something to eat, so I'll be gone for just a little while," she
explained, feeling a bit guilty at the lie.
But it wasn't like Ari and Van would be demoted or anything, she hoped.
"Can I bring you something," the youngling asked quietly.
For reply the clone silently shook his head and indicated some ration packs
he had carried with him.

"I'm off then," Ahsoka beamed, skipping lightly through the tent flap and
towards the perimeter of camp where the porta-freshers had been set up.

She was free!

Ducking into the temporary 'fresher, Ahsoka closed the door behind her and
then slowly opened it a crack.  She was far enough from the camp that no one
noticed her and she had been careful to take note, during the official tour
that Ari and Van took them on, of just when the guards patrolling the
perimeter were due to come back around.

Moving quickly and silently the jedi-to-be exited the 'fresher and darted
into the meter-high grass of the scrub lands.
Now that she was actually out in the wilderness Ahsoka's innate senses were
considerably heightened.

There were many native beasts which inhabited the planet and the youngling's
sense of smell, sight and hearing was automatically adjusted to detect them
all.

It was unnatural for those of her species to move among throughout the wild
lands alone but for the moment Ahsoka was reveling in the experience.  She
tipped her head upward, bearing sharply pointed teeth for a moment and the
quickly moved on.  She hoped to get several clicks from camp before the
clones noticed that anything was wrong.

At last she came across a grass mound and decided that she would keep an eye
out for Treyton.  The grass remained tall there and she could easily blend
in.  In fact, a creature could pass right by and never see her because of
the color of the grass which camouflaged her.  When she saw Treyton she
would simply use a unique sounding whistle he, Monhi and herself had made up
as kids.  Trey would recognize it but to
anyone else it would sound like just another bird.


*Ash*

Recently, he had found his abilities heightened when he was with Padme. A
way to touch the force that he had never sensed before. It made him feel
powerful and almost dangerous.

"I'm sure I'll heal fine," Anakin said and smiled. He easily lifted her and
turned around, sitting Padme on the edge of the sink. His lips intertwined
with her's and he kissed her deeply. A kiss that conveyed how much he wished
he didn't have to leave her here alone. What he wouldn't give just to be
with her everyday. Anakin was willing to give everything up, including the
order to know that he would be able to be with her.

She wouldn't allow it though. She was the one who was bent on him continuing
his duty to the Republic. Pulling away from her, Anakin looked at her
features. He wanted to remember everything about her. Padme was the only
reason he lived and breathed.

Anakin bent and buried his face in her neck. He didn't want to have to say
goodbye again. He didn't want any of this to end.
"I don't want to leave," he said, his voice muffled against her skin. "This
is where I belong, not out there."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-

NEW:

(ooc: Sink, Cockpit! It's all good!!)

For several silent moments she simply held him, one tiny hand cupping the
back of his head as he rested against her.  Her legs, bare beneath the robe
she wore, reached out to wrap around his body pulling him closer.

Anakin was speaking the words she didn't want to hear; words she had tried
not to utter because they were too painful.

Knowing that she would have to let him go soon brought indescribable anguish
to her soul. She didn't know when she would see him again and she refused to
let herself consider the very real fact that he might not come home at all.

"Anakin," she whispered beside his ear, pulling him even closer as she
wrapped her arms and legs tightly around him.  There were a million things
her heart wanted to say, but she couldn't make the words form past the lump
in her throat. She also knew that it was unnecessary; because he understood
all that she couldn't say.

Finally she lifted his head and returned the kiss he had given her, with an
almost desperate desire to hold this memory in her heart; to taste him once
more.  To take in everything about him, storing it away for those eternally
long ages when he would be far from her side

"I have something for you," she murmured at last, looking up at him with
tear filled eyes. "Something I want you to carry with you."  She reached
into her robe pocket and handed him silver medallion with a small blue
ribbon attached. "It goes back through my family for generations.  My father
gave it to me when I was elected queen.  The inscription is in the ancient
language of Naboo."

"It says,  'But to the hero, when his sword has won the battle for the free,
thy voice sounds like a prophet's word, and in its hollow tones are heard
the thanks of millions yet to be.'

"It's meant to keep you safe, Anakin," she explained, "and bring you luck on
the battlefield.  Where it pinned inside your tunic," she placed the palm of
her right hand against his bare chest, "next to your heart."

*Mrs. S*


** Hero quote by Fitz-Greene Halleck