Part V

Chancellor Palpatine smiled broadly at both Amidala and Mace Windu as they walked along the corridor together towards his suite.

"Master Windu, I assure you that the Queen shall be perfectly safe within the walls of my suite. My own personal guards will be right outside the doors..."

Mace looked hesitant. Amidala decided to step in. "Master Jedi, you accompanied me today because you had business here. I would not be pleased to think that I kept you away from it. I have full confidence in Chancellor Palpatine's security arrangements."

Mace still looked concerned, but he reluctantly conceded the point. "Very well, Your Highness, but at least allow me to make sure the suite is secure before you enter."

She nodded.

As they approached the chancellor's suite, the two blue uniformed guards flanking the doors stood to attention. Palpatine nodded to them. The guard on the right keyed in the security code, and the doors slid apart.

"Wait here," Mace said, this time in a tone that brooked no argument. He turned and entered the suite, his hand hovering near his lightsaber handle.

Amidala threw Palpatine a nervous glance, and he smiled reassuringly at her in return. A moment later, Mace re-emerged from the Chancellor's suite.

He nodded to Amidala. "It's all clear, Your Highness," he said. He paused in the corridor and stared meaningfully at her. "You will wait here until I return?"

She nodded. "Of course, Master Jedi. Now, please, don't let me delay you any further."

Mace sighed slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness. I should return before evening," he said, bowing slightly before heading off.

Palpatine turned to Amidala and gestured towards his suite. "After you, Your Highness..."

Obi-Wan shut the door of his quarters behind him. He was thankful that he hadn't run into anyone in the corridors on the way. The last thing he wanted to do right now was have another conversation. He closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face. He moved to the corner of the room, allowing himself to collapse in his chair. He leaned back, his face toward the ceiling, and took a very deep breath. He sat like that for a moment before straightening up and shaking his head slightly as if to clear his mind. He blinked the moisture from his eyes. And that, he decided simply, was why Anakin needed to stay away from Amidala.

Chancellor Palpatine leaned over and took one of Amidala's hands in both of his. "My dear, I vow to do all I can to uncover this cowardly would-be assassin. And, if you'll indulge me, I think I have a plan that may lure the culprit into the open."

Amidala cocked her head. "A plan, Chancellor?"

"Yes, but we shall require the assistance of your Jedi friends..."

Kayla stared at the spot on the couch that Obi-Wan had occupied not five minutes ago. That man was unbelievable. First he kisses her, and then runs, and then he kisses her and tells her he can't kiss her and then runs.

"Urrgggh!" she growled in frustration, before grabbing a couch cushion and hurling it violently towards her door. "That's it!" she declared aloud. "No more. I don't have to take this."

She was angry, she decided. She was angry with Obi-Wan, she was furious with Sah-Jen, and she absolutely could not forgive the one person who'd betrayed her most...herself.

Anakin was getting bored with staring at the ceiling. Since his master decided to wander off with Kayla he had nothing to do. Amidala was at the Senate Building, his master was busy tending to Kayla, and Kayla was busy being tended to. He sighed. There was nothing else for it. He was going to have to go to lunch.

Anakin walked down the corridor slowly, dragging his feet and whistling softly to himself. As he walked, he thought back on what he considered a rather odd exchange between his master and his friend. He was sure he was missing something, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. Maybe he was just getting too paranoid these days, after all that business with Amidala... Amidala. He sighed. He wished she'd let him in on what was going on. Why was she keeping secrets from him?

Anakin's chain of thought was broken as he nearly ran into Master Yoda who was coming out of the dining hall.

Yoda turned his wizened face up towards Anakin and gently jabbed him in the leg with his staff. "Hmmm..." he said. "Distracted are you. Not looking where you are going. Not being in the here and now," Yoda chided. He jabbed him again for good measure. "More attention you will pay..."

Anakin bit back a smile and nodded. "Yes, Master Yoda."

Yoda nodded. "Mmmmmm..." he said, and wandered off.

Anakin laughed quietly, and walked into the dining hall, shaking his head.

Kayla looked at the clock. Lunchtime. No wonder she was getting hungry. She hadn't realized so much time had passed since breakfast. She sighed. She didn't relish the thought of going to the dining hall. If she ran into Obi-Wan...well, she honestly didn't know what she'd do. She wasn't sure she could even be civil to him right now. But still, it was either go to the dining hall or stay in her quarters and starve to death. Or go get lunch outside the Temple. The latter option wasn't realistic, she decided. Her ankle was feeling better, but not well enough for her to be walking around on it for an extended amount of time.

Right, she decided, she wasn't going to let him force her into hiding. She stood up. Her ankle was still a bit tender. The last thing she wanted to do was to draw attention to herself by levitating down the corridor, but if she focused she could use the Force to take up just enough of her weight to allow her to walk fairly normally. She suddenly wished she'd thought of this earlier, like back in Anakin's quarters...She pushed the thought from her mind and set off for the dining hall.

Anakin picked his way merrily through the buffet, piling his plate high with everything that caught his eye. He spotted an exotic-looking spiced pudding at the end, and scooped it up with his free hand before heading off to his usual table. He tucked into the food heartily once he sat down. He'd had a good breakfast, but he felt as if he hadn't eaten in days. He was just about to start in on the pudding when two hands appeared on his shoulders and a head suddenly popped into view. He grinned. "Kayla! Feeling better?"

She smiled despite herself. Anakin always had that effect on her. "The ankle's still a little tender, but it's much better than it was," she said.

"Mmm!" he said, his mouth half-full of pudding, "I'm being so rude!" He pulled out a chair for her. "Here, sit! You shouldn't be standing around like that..."

She sank down into the chair gratefully.

"What are you having? I'll get it for you," he said.

"Um, thanks...I was just going to grab some stuff and go eat in the courtyard."

"The courtyard? How come?"

"I...um, I'm not really in the mood to eat in the dining hall today," she said, avoiding his eyes.

"Oh, okay," he said. "Hey, want some company?"

She smiled. "Sure, why not?"

He grinned. "Great. Okay, just tell me what you want, I'll go grab it for you, and then we'll head off."

"One problem...I'm not sure what I want. What are you having?" He looked down at his plate. "Well, this...this was, erm...something brown," he said, pointing to a few crumbs on the side of his plate.

"And this...this was...fruit, I think..."

"You didn't pay any attention, did you?"

"Well...I was very hungry." He paused, and then threw her a mischievous glance. "Worked up quite an appetite earlier, after all..."

She stared at him, confused for a second. Her face cleared. "Oh, you!"

He laughed, and turned back to his food. "And this..." he said, cupping the pudding glass in his hands as if it contained something incredibly precious, "this," he continued conspiratorially, "is spiced Corellian pudding. Highly recommended."

"I've never had it. What's it like?"

Anakin immediately dipped his forefinger in and scooped up a small amount. He held it up for her to taste.

Obi-Wan stared at the door to his quarters. He had let himself be forced into hiding, he decided. Time to fix that. He got up and headed for the dining hall.

Kayla looked from the proffered puddinged digit to Anakin and back again. Anakin was grinning wildly. A dare. She smiled. Obi-Wan pushed his way through the dining hall doors. He spotted Anakin and.Master Sah-Jen's padawan almost immediately. Anakin was holding a finger out to her. She leaned over and wrapped her mouth around it, pulling back slowly.

Obi-Wan stared.

Kayla licked the pudding off Anakin's finger and then gave him a wicked grin. "Didn't think I'd do it, did you?"

He shook his head. "I should have known better after this morning."

Kayla suddenly seemed distracted. She was staring straight ahead. She looked vaguely agitated.

Anakin followed her gaze. Obi-Wan. He was staring back at her, a frown on his face. She seemed decidedly unhappy at the sight of him as well, Anakin decided.

He turned to Kayla. "Let me grab you something to eat, and we'll head off to the courtyard, okay?"

She continued to stare at Obi-Wan. "Okay."

Anakin's face creased into a frown of concern, and he quickly made his way over to the buffet and back. Holding her plate of food in one hand, Anakin gently took Kayla's arm and helped her to stand. They made their way to the door, walking past Obi-Wan. Anakin nodded at him. "Master."

Obi-Wan turned to look at him for the first time. "Anakin," he said, nodding slightly and continuing past them.

Anakin looked at Kayla again. Her face was still set in a frown. She and Master Obi-Wan hadn't exchanged a word. What was going on? What had happened in the short time between when they'd left his quarters and when Kayla showed up at the dining hall? This time, Anakin was determined to get some answers.

They walked in silence towards the courtyard, Kayla watching the ground as she walked. Anakin opted for watching Kayla. She was upset, there was no doubt about that. Anakin paused at the Courtyard entrance, ushering Kayla through the archway ahead of him. "Which bench did you want to sit on?" he asked.

She looked at him for a moment as if she'd forgotten he was there before her expression softened and she smiled gently at him.

"Anywhere's fine, really," she said.

"Okay," said Anakin looking around, "how about..." he turned and pointed towards the right, and then turned and pointed left.

"...there!" he declared.

Kayla smiled more broadly at him. "Why there?"

"Because I say so," he declared in a mock no-nonsense tone.

"Right then," she said, following him over to the bench.

They sat, and he handed her the plate of food he'd been carrying. They sat in silence for a minute while she munched on a piece of fruit.

"So," Anakin said finally, "are you going to tell me what that was all about?"

"No," she answered flatly.

"Oh, come on...this is me...you can tell me..." he said, leaning over to catch her eyes.

She took a deep breath. "Let's just say that he and I had a difference of opinion."

"You had an argument? With Master Obi-Wan? What about?"

"Now you're prying."

"Sorry," he said, looking at his hands. He paused. "He and I haven't exactly been getting along lately either."

Kayla looked up, surprised. "Why?"

Anakin smiled broadly. "Let's just say we had a difference of opinion," he teased.

Kayla shook her head and laughed.

When she caught her breath she said, "You know, I don't think he likes me hanging around you."

Anakin gave her an odd look. "Probably not. Probably thinks I'm a bad influence on you."

Kayla shook her head. "No, I don't think it's that..."

"What is it, then?"

She looked thoughtful. "I don't know," she said. She paused. "Maybe he's jealous," she said, now grinning.

"Ahhh," Anakin said, "but of me, or of you?" he said, with a slightly wicked grin.

Kayla smiled broadly. "Oh, definitely you," she declared. "After all," she said, shaking her hair out and holding her chin up, "I am quite the catch..."

Anakin dipped his finger in her pudding and smudged her nose with it. She laughed.

Outside in the corridor, Obi-Wan turned and walked away.

"That's it," she said in good humor. "I've taken enough abuse, I'm leaving."

Anakin pouted at her. "Aw, I'm sorry, don't go..."

She smiled at him and shook her head. "Nah, seriously though, I'm kinda tired. It's only lunchtime and it already feels like it's been a long day. I think I'm going to go take a nap."

He sighed melodramatically. "Oh, all right, fine, leave me all alone," he teased. She started to stand. "Need any help getting back?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No, I think I'll be okay."

He nodded. "Okay. I've got some stuff I need to take care of anyway - want me to run your plate back to the dining hall?"

"Oh, hey yeah, please. I'd forgotten about that...you sure you don't mind?"

He stood and bowed. "Anything for you, m'lady," he said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it lightly. He straightened and then arched an eyebrow at her. "Really..._anything_..."

She hit him lightly on the arm. "Oh, cut it out," she said with a severity utterly crippled by laughter.

He grinned at her. "Okay, okay. See you at dinner?"

"Probably," she said, beginning to walk off. She called back over her shoulder, "If you're lucky!"

His grin widened at her retreating back.

Anakin watched Kayla leave. He sat back down on the bench, leaning back and kicking his feet out in front of him, still wearing a large smile. He sighed. At least she seemed to be feeling better. He wondered again what had happened between Kayla and his master. A difference of opinion, she'd said. ‘A difference of opinion over what?,’ he wondered. The only thing that Kayla and Obi-Wan had in common was...him, actually. Had they had an argument about him?

Anakin's face creased into a frown. He stood up. If Kayla wouldn't tell him what was going on, maybe his master would. He strode determinedly from the courtyard.

Anakin found Obi-Wan in his quarters. His master seemed very tired.

"Yes, Anakin?"

"Master...I'm sorry to disturb you. May I come in?"

"Yes, of course," Obi-Wan said softly, stepping aside to allow Anakin to enter.

Anakin faced Obi-Wan. "Master, I was hoping you could tell me what's upsetting Kayla."

"Upsetting Kayla?" he asked.

Anakin nodded. "Yes."

Obi-Wan pinched the bridge of his nose as he talked. His eyes seemed slightly bloodshot, Anakin thought. "Kayla is upset because she wants something that she can't have," he said matter-of-factly.

Anakin looked puzzled. "I don't understand. What is it she wants?" he asked.

Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, this is really between Kayla and myself. Please don't ask me any more questions."

Anakin looked at his shoes. He nodded. "All right."

Obi-Wan put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "Trust me, she'll be okay, but I'd like you to do me a favor. Give her a little space for the time being. I think you two have been spending too much time together."

Anakin looked up at his master, a barely concealed frown masking his face. "Are you telling me to stay away from her?"

"I'm just suggesting that perhaps you two need a little time apart."

Anakin counted to three before responding. "Yes, Master," he said, before turning to leave.

Anakin chose not to follow his master's suggestion. He headed straight for Kayla's quarters. He now had more questions than answers.

Apparently Kayla hadn't been joking when she mentioned Obi-Wan not liking the two of them hanging out together. What had she said about that? "Maybe he's jealous." Jealous? The thought made Anakin cringe. Could it be that Obi-Wan was actually jealous of his friendship with Kayla? It seemed odd, but then, it would explain a lot. Like the way Obi-Wan overreacted in the courtyard that morning. Admittedly, Anakin had been in the wrong, but Obi-Wan looked as if he could barely control his own temper. And then there was that odd exchange between Kayla and his master in his room. He'd wondered what that meant. But then what had happened after they left? Had Obi-Wan forbidden Kayla to see Anakin? And if he had, why didn't one of them just come out and say it? Was this something to do with that 'unusual behavior' Obi-Wan mentioned he might not be able to explain because of Amidala? Why would Kayla be involved with that?

Anakin sighed as he reached Kayla's quarters. He pressed the door chime impatiently. He was rewarded a minute later when a drowsy Kayla opened the door. "Anakin?"

Palpatine leaned in towards Amidala. "...and that way we'll know one way or the other. And with some luck, we shall apprehend the villain."

Amidala nodded. "It is a good plan, Chancellor. I think the Jedi will agree to it."

Palpatine rubbed his palms together. "Excellent. Together we shall uncover this plot against you and the Naboo government."

They looked up as the door chime sounded.

"Enter," called Palpatine.

The doors slid sideways to reveal Master Mace.

"Back so soon, Master Jedi?" asked Amidala.

Mace bowed slightly and said, "Yes, I've concluded the business matter I needed to attend to. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. A pleasant surprise. Your Highness, if you are ready, we may return to the Temple."

Amidala nodded. "I am ready, Master Jedi. And Chancellor Palpatine shall be accompanying us."

Mace turned to Palpatine, a surprised expression on his face. "Chancellor?"

Palpatine smiled. "Yes, I've a plan I would like to discuss with yourself and young Master Obi-Wan."

Mace nodded. "Very well. If we leave now we should reach the Temple by dusk." He held an arm out toward the door. "Your Highness, Chancellor..."

Kayla looked at Anakin with an expression of mild annoyance. "He said I wanted something I couldn't have?"

Anakin had expected her to react badly, but he hadn't been fully prepared for the look in her eyes. "Um, yes."

"And then he told you to stay away from me?"

Anakin took a breath. "Well, that was the basic gist of it, yeah. Although he called it a 'suggestion.' The meaning was clear enough though."

Kayla nodded. "Right. Fine." She looked at Anakin. "I take it that you're not following his 'suggestion'."

"No."

Her expression softened slightly. "Thank you." She paused for a moment, and then took his hand. "I feel like you're the only friend I've got right now."

He squeezed her hand in return. "Won't you tell me what all this is about?"

She sighed. "Yeah, okay. Why not?" She took a deep breath before continuing. "He kissed me."

"What?!?" Anakin looked as if his eyes might explode from his head any second now.

"It's...complicated," she said, avoiding his eyes.

Obi-Wan examined the crystal in the lightsaber resting on the table in front of him. It didn't really need cleaning, but Obi-Wan looked after his lightsaber, the lightsaber that had belonged to his master Qui-Gon, with meticulous care. Qui-Gon. A vision of his master being impaled by the Sith Lord flashed through Obi-Wan’s mind. He hoped Anakin would never see him struck down in such a fashion. Obi-Wan had barely managed to control his own anger at the sight. He feared what might happen to Anakin in such a situation. Anakin was too easily led by his emotions. It had only taken one comment from Kayla for him to lose his temper while dueling with her. In his mind’s eye, Obi-Wan saw Kayla fall to the ground. She was only slightly injured, but Obi-Wan realized how easily she could have been killed in the exchange. Still, at least Anakin had felt regret at what he’d done. He’d come back to see if she was okay, and then carried her to his room to tend her ankle. Obi-Wan felt a brief twinge of guilt that he’d left her in that state. Of course, she seemed to enjoy Anakin’s company more than his.

"...and then he walked out," Kayla continued. "After that I sat in my room for a while, then went to get some lunch. The rest you know."

Anakin stared at her, agape. He shook his head. "I can’t believe it. Why didn’t you tell me any of this earlier?"

"I didn’t think he’d want you to know. But at this point, I don’t really care what he wants," she said defiantly.

Anakin gave her a sharp nod. "Good for you."

"All the same, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention anything to him about this."

Anakin smiled reassuringly at her. "No, of course I won’t. We’ll keep this between you and me." He paused. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand.

She squeezed his hand. "Yeah, I’m all right."

Anakin left Kayla’s quarters deep in thought. Well, he decided, that certainly explained some things. Like why Obi-Wan didn’t want him around Kayla. He was jealous. Well, at least if Obi-Wan was interested in Kayla it meant he wasn’t interested in Amidala. Didn’t it? But then, Obi-Wan had also told him to stay away from Amidala on multiple occasions. Was it for the same reason? Kayla had said she’d seen the two of them together, but Obi-Wan had reassured him that it was innocent.

This was all too confusing. Anakin sighed, and then gave a sharp yelp as he ran headlong into Obi-Wan coming down the corridor.

Obi-Wan looked at him suspiciously. "Where are you coming from, Anakin? Not Kayla’s quarters, I hope."

Anakin recovered himself quickly. "Now master, why would I be in Kayla’s quarters when you just asked me to stay away from her?"

"Why indeed?" Obi-Wan said flatly.

Anakin cocked his head slightly. "And where are you headed, Master?"

"I was looking for you. You weren’t in your quarters. I thought perhaps you decided not to heed my suggestion."

"Master?"

"Master Yoda has a small errand for us to run."

"Yes, Master."

Kayla decided to resume her nap once Anakin had left. She felt exhausted after recapping the day’s events for him. She rolled onto her side and drifted into sleep.

She awoke several hours later feeling refreshed, renewed, and hungry. She headed once again to the dining hall. As she passed the courtyard, she noticed Anakin and Obi-Wan sitting inside talking. An evil thought struck her. She walked into the courtyard and beckoned to Anakin. He saw her, smiled, and walked over. Obi-Wan watched on from his seat on the bench.

Anakin grinned at Kayla. "He’s not going to like this, you know."

Kayla smiled mischievously. "I know, but I just couldn’t stay away from you."

Anakin’s grin widened. "Well, of course not. I mean, look at me..."

Kayla suppressed the urge to laugh. She glanced surreptitiously at Obi-Wan and then turned back to Anakin. "Obi-Wan doesn’t look very happy."

Anakin chuckled. "Well, if you were having to compete with me, you wouldn’t be either."

Kayla grinned evilly at him. "Ah, but we are having a competition, aren’t we?" she said, before pulling him to her and kissing him full on the lips. She pulled back and took in the astonishment on his face, before leaning over and whispering in his ear, "By the way, I win." She gave him her best cat smile and walked away.

Anakin shook his head and laughed as he walked back over to Obi-Wan. He was still smiling when Obi-Wan asked "What was all that about?"

Anakin sat down, kicked his legs out in front of him, and folded his arms behind his head before responding. "Well, I guess it’s going to be more difficult for me to stay away from Kayla than I thought," he said, grinning madly. He turned his head to stare at the doorway she’d just exited through.

Obi-Wan glared at him. "Try harder," he said with an edge in his voice.

Anakin was about to respond with a witty comeback when he saw Amidala walk into the courtyard. She was accompanied by Master Mace and Chancellor Palpatine. What was he doing here?

Amidala made a beeline for the two Jedi. Anakin could tell she meant business.

She stopped in front of them and addressed Obi-Wan. "Master Jedi?"

Obi-Wan stood and Anakin followed suit. "Your Highness?"

Amidala glanced briefly at Anakin before continuing. "May we have a moment of your time, Master Jedi?"

Obi-Wan looked from Amidala to Anakin and back again. "Of course, Your Highness," he said to her. He turned to Anakin. "Anakin, you look hungry. Why don't you go get something to eat?"

Anakin swore inwardly. They were doing it again. More secrets. Still, Obi-Wan was mad enough at him already. He should probably play along. For now, anyway. "Yes, Master," he said. He bowed slightly to Amidala.

"Your Highness." He turned to Mace and Palpatine. "Master Mace, Chancellor Palpatine," he said, nodding to each in turn. With a last look at Obi-Wan and Amidala, he turned and left the courtyard.

Obi-Wan waited until Anakin was out of sight. "Your Highness, should we go somewhere more private to discuss matters?"

Amidala nodded. "Yes, we shall go to my quarters. Chancellor Palpatine has a plan he would like to discuss with you and Master Mace."

Obi-Wan turned to Palpatine. "A plan?"

Palpatine nodded. "Yes. But as you said, perhaps we should go somewhere more private to discuss matters."

Obi-Wan nodded, his expression serious. "Of course." He turned to Amidala. "After you, Your Highness."

Amidala nodded again and led them from the courtyard.

Anakin meandered down the corridor, looking around for something to kick. He hated this. He hated being kept in the dark by his own master and the woman he loved. What was going on? Why all the secrecy? And why was Chancellor Palpatine here? If it was something important enough to involve the Chancellor, why were they leaving him out of it? And did Amidala really make Obi-Wan promise not to tell him anything, or was Obi-Wan just keeping him out of it of his own accord? Obi-Wan seemed to have a lot of secrets lately.

Kayla's story had left Anakin's mind reeling. Obi-Wan was such a hypocrite. Here he was telling Anakin to stay away from Amidala when he was going around kissing a padawan! And one of Anakin's friends, nonetheless.

Well, at least Kayla was getting back at him. Anakin was under no false impression that Kayla had kissed him in the courtyard just to win their "game". He knew perfectly well that she was doing it to get back at Obi-Wan. And that was fine by Anakin. Obi-Wan needed a bit of his own medicine every now and then. Especially now. Anakin pushed open the dining hall doors and walked through. He spotted Kayla across the room and walked over to her.

"Hiya."

"Hiya? That's a new one."

Kayla smiled. "So, how are things?" she asked, with a mischievous smile.

Anakin gave her a mock reproving look. "If you're asking how Obi-Wan reacted to that little scene of yours in the courtyard, the answer is 'not good'."

Kayla gave him a slightly apologetic smile. "Ah. Sorry about that."

Anakin shook his head. "It's okay," he said, sitting down next to her. "He deserved it."

Kayla grinned. "Aren't you going to eat something?"

Anakin frowned. "I'm not really hungry."

Kayla looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"

Anakin stared at Kayla, as if trying to come to some decision. "You know that handmaiden you saw Obi-Wan with the other day?" he finally asked.

"Yes..." Kayla said carefully.

"She's not a handmaiden. Her name is Amidala. She's the Queen of the Naboo," he said.

"Go on."

"Well, she's also, sort of, my girlfriend, sort of..." he added.

Kayla looked at Anakin thoughtfully. No wonder he got upset this morning when she told him what she'd seen. "Ah..."

Anakin related the last couple days events to Kayla, grateful to at last have someone to talk to about the situation. Kayla listened to his tale, making the appropriate sympathetic noises at the appropriate times. When Anakin finished, she looked at him seriously.

"I can see why you're upset. I would be too."

He sighed. "What do you think I should do?"

"Probably best to play along with things for now. But keep your eyes and your ears open."

Anakin nodded. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking, too."

This time it was Kayla who sighed. "I wish I could be of more help, but I'm probably the last person that should be giving love advice."

Anakin smiled at that, and Kayla smiled at him in return. Anakin clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Well," he said, "at least we've got each other and our sense of humor." He grinned.

Palpatine addressed Obi-Wan and Mace across the conference table in the Queen’s quarters. "The banquet will be an elaborate affair, well publicized. I shall personally ensure that word gets around that the Queen will be in attendance. So far, the assassin has made all of his or her attempts at very public events. We suspect the attempts to be a political statement. Such a high profile event is sure to attract our assassin’s attention. This is where the Jedi come in. We will need to ensure the Queen’s safety and close the net around the villain if he should put in an appearance."

Obi-Wan nodded seriously and glanced at Mace. Mace turned to Palpatine. "The Jedi will of course be glad to be of assistance, Chancellor."

Palpatine smiled. "Good, good. Then we shall go ahead with the arrangements. We’ll schedule the banquet for the day after tomorrow. That should give us enough time to prepare the banquet and get the word out."

"And give our assassin time to make the trip from Naboo if he’s not already here," Amidala added.