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； you will be safer； and our duties will be made far easier。〃
Padme's mind whirled as she tried to sort out Anakin's thoughts； and his motivations。 He was surprising her with every word； considering that he was a Jedi Padawan； and yet； given the fire that she clearly saw burning behind his blue eyes； he was not surprising her。 She saw trouble brewing there； in those simmering and too…passionate eyes； but even more than that； she saw excitement and the promise of thrills。
And； perhaps； the promise of finding out who it was that was trying to kill her。
Obi…Wan Kenobi stepped off the turbolift tentatively； warily； glancing left and right。 He noted the two posted guards； alert and ready； and he nodded his approval to them。 Every corridor had been like this throughout the massive apartment plex； and in this particular area； above； below； and near Amidala's room； the place was locked down tight。
Captain Typho had been given many soldiers at his disposal； and he had situated them well； overseeing as fine a defensive perimeter as Obi…Wan had ever witnessed。 The Jedi Master took great fort in that； of course； and knew that Typho was making his job easier。
But Obi…Wan could not relax。 He had heard about the attack on the Naboo cruiser in great detail from Typho； and considering the many precautions that had been taken to protect the vessel…everything from broadcasting false entry lanes to the appointed landing pad to the many shielding fighters； the three acpanying the ship directly； and many more； both Naboo and Republic； covering every conceivable attack lane…these assassins could not be underestimated。 They were good and they were well connected； to be sure。
And； likely； they were stubborn。
To get at Senator Amidala through the halls of this building； though； would take an army。
Obi…Wan nodded to the guards and walked a circuit of this lower floor then； satisfied； headed back to the turbolift。
Padme took a deep breath； her thoughts lost in the last images of Anakin as he had left her room。 Images of her sister Sola flitted about her； almost as if she could hear Sola teasing her already。
The Senator shook all of the thoughts； of Sola and particularly of Anakin； away and motioned to R2…D2； the little droid standing impassively against the wall beside the door。 〃Implement the shutdown；〃 she instructed。 R2…D2 replied with a fearful 〃oooo。〃
〃Go ahead； Artoo。 It's all right。 We have protection here。〃 The droid gave another worried call； but extended a probe out to the security panel on the wall beside him。
Padme looked back to the door； recalling again the last images of Anakin； her tall and lean Jedi protector。 She could see his shining blue eyes as surely as if he was standing before her； full of intensity； watching over her more carefully than any security cam ever could。
Anakin stood in the living room of Padme's apartment； absorbing the silence around him； using the lack of physical noise to bolster his mental connection to that more subtle realm of the Force； feeling the life about him as clearly as if his five physical senses were all attuned to it。 His eyes were closed； but he could see the region about him clearly enough； could sense any disturbance in the Force。
Anakin's eyes popped open wide； his gaze darting about the room； and he pulled his lightsaber from his belt。
Or almost did； stopping fast when the door slid open and Master Kenobi walked into the room。
Obi…Wan looked about curiously； his gaze settling on Anakin。 〃Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs；〃 he said。 〃No assassin will try that way。 Any activity up here？〃
〃Quiet as a tomb；〃 Anakin replied。 〃I don't like just waiting here for something to happen。〃
Obi…Wan gave a little shake of his head； a movement showing his resignation concerning Anakin's predictability； and took a view scanner from his belt； checking his screen。 His expression； shifting from curious to confused to concerned； spoke volumes to Anakin： He knew that Obi…Wan could see only part of Padme's bedroom…the door area and R2…D2 standing by the wall； but nothing more。
The Jedi Knight's expression asked the question before he even spoke the words。
〃Padme 。 。 。 Senator Amidala； covered the cam；〃 the Padawan explained。 〃I don't think she liked me watching her。〃
Obi…Wan's face tensed and he let out a little growl。 〃What is she thinking？ Her security is paramount； and is promised…〃
〃She programmed Artoo to warn us if there's an intruder；〃
Anakin explained； trying to calm Obi…Wan before his concern could gain any real momentum。
〃It's not an intruder I'm worried about；〃 Obi…Wan countered。 〃Or not merely an intruder。 There are many ways to kill a Senator。〃
〃I know； but we also want to catch this assassin；〃 Anakin said； his tone determined； stubborn even。 〃Don't we； Master？〃
〃You're using her as bait？〃 Obi…Wan asked incredulously； his eyes widening with shock and disbelief。
〃It was her idea；〃 Anakin protested； but his sharp tone showed clearly that he agreed with the plan。 〃Don't worry。 No harm will e to her。 I can sense everything going on in that room。 Trust me。〃
〃It's too risky；〃 Obi…Wan scolded。 〃Besides； your senses aren't that attuned； my young apprentice。〃
Anakin parsed his words and his tone carefully； trying to sound not defensive； but rather suggestive。 〃And yours are？〃
Obi…Wan could not deny the look of intrigue that crossed his face。
〃Possibly；〃 he admitted。
Anakin smiled and nodded； and closed his eyes again； falling into the sensations of the Force； following them to Padme； who was sleeping quietly。 He wished that he could see her； could watch the quiet rise and fall of her belly； could hear her soft breathing； could smell the freshness of her hair； could feel the smoothness of her skin； could kiss her and taste the sweetness of her lips。
He had to settle for this； for feeling her life energy in the Force。
A place of warmth； it was。
In a different way； Padme was thinking of Anakin； as well。 He was there beside her； in her dreams。
She saw the fighting match that she knew would soon ensue in the Senate； the screaming and fist waving； the threats and the loud objections。 How badly it drained her。
Anakin was there。
Her dream became a nightmare； some unseen assassin chasing her； blaster bolts whipping past her； and her feet seemed as if they were stuck in deep mud。
But Anakin rushed past； his lightsaber ignited and waving； deflecting the blaster bolts aside。
Padme shifted a bit and gave a little groan； on many levels as unfortable with the identity of her rescuer as she was with the presence of the assassin。 She didn't truly awaken； though； just thrashed a bit and raised her head； opening her eyes only briefly before burying her face in her pillow。
She didn't see the small round droid hovering behind the blinds outside her window。 She didn't see the appendages e out of it； attaching to the window； or the sparks arcing about those arms as the droid shut down the security system。 She didn't see the larger arm deploy； cutting a hole in the glass； nor did she hear the slight； faint sound as the glass was removed。
Over by the door in Padme's room； R2…D2's lights went on。 The droid's domed head swiveled about； scanning the room； and he gave a soft 〃wooo〃 sound。 But then； apparently detecting nothing amiss； the droid shut back down。 Outside； a small tube came forth from the probe droid； moving to the hole in the window； and crawling through it； into Padme's room； came a pair of kouhuns； like bloated white maggots with lines of black legs along their sides and nasty mandibles。 Dangerous as those mandibles looked； though； the true danger of the kouhuns lay at the other end； the tail stinger； dripping of venom。 The vicious kouhuns crawled in through the blinds and started immediately toward the bed and the sleeping woman。
〃You look tired；〃 Obi…Wan said to Anakin in the adjoining room。 The Padawan； still standing； opened his eyes and came out of his meditative trance。 He took a moment to register the words； and then gave a little shrug； not disagreeing