'You okay?'

She whipped around with the intent to snap at another drunkard who was distracting her from the mission, but stopped when she saw a chest covered in dark leathered robes. She looked up to meet Anakin's gaze and saw his brow was heavy over his eyes, almost in anger. She clipped her weapon onto her belt and lowered her head in a nod, hoping that he wasn't angry at her for using the Force in such a dangerous setting.

'I'm fine, found anything?' she changed the subject.

'Nothing, but you should have called me over-'

The whoosh of a lightsaber made the two turn to the bar where Obi-wan was bathed in a hue of blue. With his lightsaber ignited and his stance rigid, he looked down at the assasin who had attempted to shoot him while his back was turned. The music and buzz of the club paused at the commotion, and whispers ensued about the woman whose arm was now detached from her body. Moans of pain came from the assassin and Obi-wan crouched down to force her to her feet.

Sol was the first to make it across the club and took hold of the woman's waist, whileObi-wan held up her other side. At the absence of an arm, Sol did her best to hold her breath at the stench of burnt flesh. A lightsaber wound was thankfully clean and sealed any blood from pouring out onto her light robes. But it didn't stop the burnt smell from occupying her senses as they guided the woman out of the club through a back door.

'Jedi business, go back to your drinks,' Anakin announced, and the club ensued with their seedy antics. He pushed down the anger that still bubbled inside of him at the previous events between the man and Sol, and left after his Master.

Out in an alleyway, Sol and Obi-wan lowered the armless assassin to the floor. Oblivious pass-byers were seen at the end of the alley, the noises of the main streets seeming far away. Anakin exited the club and crouched down in front of the assassin, Obi-wan tending to her shoulder in the best way he could. Sol shuffled to face the woman and placed her fingertips to the street below to keep her balance.

'Do you know who it was you were trying to kill?' Obi-wan questioned.

'A senator from Naboo,' she admitted with a wince at her wound.

'Who hired you?' Sol took over the interrogation, but the assassin didn't seem to bother listening to her. 'We could always leave you here with your wound. I suggest you cooperate.'

'It was just a job,' the assasin mumbled and Sol bit her lip. Anakin lowered his head into the light of the lamppost above the alleyway, making his hard gaze visible to the woman.

'Who hired you? Tell us,' his tone was mocking and daring. The assassin looked like she was scared for a moment, her lips parting but hesitant. She took to long to asnwer for Anakin's liking, making him snap momentarily.

'Tell us now!'

'It-It was a bounty hunter called-'

The information was nearly out, but she let out a choke as something pierced her neck. Sol jumped and whipped her head around to look behind her, seeing movement up on a high building. What looked like a Mandalorian ignited its jetpack and flew away, leaving nothing in its wake and disappearing into the higher levels of the city. Sol was able to turn her head back in time to hear the woman's last words, but was shocked to see her appearance changing by the second. 

From humanoid skin to a dark green tinge that resembled leather, her eyes grew large, and her lips shrunk into a large pout. A Clawdite appeared in the place of the assassin and Sol strained her ears to hear her pained words.

'Wee shanhit... sleemo.'

She collapsed and the object in her neck finished its job. A silence fell over them in the alleyway and Obi-wan leaned forward to pull the cause of the Clawdite's death out from her green neck. Anakin eyed it before analysing the assassin for any other signs of poisoning or strange effects.

'A toxic dart,' Obi-wan pondered aloud and Sol looked over her shoulder again, looking at the place where she had seen what she was sure was a Mandalorian. They were known for accepting bounties and the translation of the assassin's last words made sense, but they still weren't any closer to figuring out who was after Senator Amidala.

Sol pondered the assassin's last words.

Bounty hunter sleezeball.

---

'Good practice, this will be for you, my young Padawan.'

Sol tried not to appear too excited. She stood before the Jedi Council with Master Yoda in the middle to address her as her Master. Master Kenobi was present as well as Master Secura, settling the nerves that would usually ravage Sol at being in the presence of so many Jedi Masters. The warm smile from Master Kenobi was something she didn't have to see to know it was there. She could sense it through the Force and having Master Secura, the one who had found her as a child with Master Yoda, sitting nearby was giving Sol the support she needed.

'You will travel as refugees with Skywalker and Senator Amidala to Naboo, where you will give us updates at any suspicious activity,' Master Windu briefed for the second time. Anakin had exited the conference room when Sol arrived, giving her a look as they passed. He too was excited to be going on a mission without Master Kenobi lecturing him the whole way, and he was secretly pleased to have Sol accompanying him. But he would never let her know that, so he gave her a blank stare as she entered the conference room, and he waited outside.

'Yes, Master,' Sol bowed low in respect and took the chance to glance at Obi-wan, who had done her the favour of suggesting her for this mission.

'Off you go, Sol. May the Force be with you,' Master Yoda dismissed her, and she smiled at him, which he returned. The conference ended and the Masters stood from their seats to leave the room. Sol quickly made her way to the door to avoid their paths and made it to the hallway, where Anakin waited.

'Looks like we're partners,' Sol stopped in front of him with her arms crossed. Anakin rolled his eyes and tried not to stare at the way she did her hair today. 

Instead of the long braid that would hang down her back, she had let it hang free besides two pieces of hair from the sides of her hair. They were pulled back to be braided and sat against the waves of her brown locks. It was a requirement to have a braid when at the level of Padawan, but women fortunately had options when it came to styling it.

'Only because Master Obi-wan has his own mission to attend to,' he said, deciding to tap into the dislike he had for his rivalled Chosen One.

'And because he suggested me to the council to partake in the protection of the senator,' she argued. 'And just so we're clear, I will not stand to be spoken to in the way you speak to Master Kenobi.'

'Oh, give me a break-'

'I mean it! If you can't show him respect, then the council will never consider you for the Knight status.'

'Spare me the lecture, Solaris,' Anakin let out a humourless laugh. 'You can't tell me that you don't, on occasion, speak out of turn to your Master-'

'I don't, actually. And don't call me that!'

'What, Solaris? That's your name, isn't it?'

It was Anakin's turn to smirk down at the smaller Padawan. He relished in the way her lilac eyes turned a deeper shade of purple. Something stirred in him whenever Sol gave him an irritated or annoyed look, and at first, he thought it was the satisfaction at knowing he had gotten under that pale skin of her's. But he was starting to learn that it also made his heart flutter and a smile want to grow onto his lips.

This scared him deeply. So, he turned it into what he knew would come off in the complete opposite way; making fun of Sol and teasing her to make her despise him.

'Alright then, Ani, have it your way.'

His smirk was wiped clean.

'Now, if you two want to succeed in this mission, you will have to stop with this bickering,' Obi-wan appeared beside the two after overhearing their dulcet tones. He could feel their strong irritations from inside the conference room where he had been intercepted by Master Secura before exiting.

'Of course, Master,' Sol ducked her head and Anakin snickered.

'Suck-up.'

'Hey,' Obi-wan threw a warning finger at his Padawan. 'This is a delicate operation. You will treat each other with respect. You will learn, Anakin, to be respectful to your fellow Jedi.'

'Yes, Master,' Anakin said with a nod, grimacing at the stare that Sol gave from next to him.

'And if you lose your lightsaber on this mission, there will be trouble.'

---

A shuttle bus arrived at the docks of Coruscant's city. The day was bright and warm, making the beginning of the mission easier to focus on. In the bus, was Obi-wan, Anakin, Sol, Senator Padme, her handmaiden, Dorme and Captain Typho with R2-D2. While Dorme was dressed in the attire Padme would usually wear as an important senator, Padme was dressed to appear as a peasant seeking refuge from the crime-ridden levels of Coruscant. Dorme would act as senator and a decoy, hoping to trick any bounty hunters and save the real senator from a painful fate.

Anakin and Sol were dressed just as poorly. Without their usual robes, they wore ponchos that were frayed at the ends. Sol wore a long skirt that skimmed at the brown boots on her feet, but her utility belt was still around her waist to hold her lightsaber. It was hidden under the poncho and would allow her to walk by unnoticed by those who could be looking for Jedi bodyguards around the senator.

As the bus stopped, Anakin grabbed the senator's bags as she stood to farewell Captain Typho and Dorme. It was a bittersweet moment for the senator, as going into hiding was not the way she liked to work, but she would be going back to her home planet, Naboo. But leaving Dorme in her wake was painful for her.

'Be safe, m'lady,' Captain Typho said.

'Thank you, Captain. Take good care of Dorme. The threat's on you two, now.'

Sol crouched down beside R2-D2, who would be accompanying them on their mission. He had barely left Padme's side since she was queen and would be useful for transmissions to the council and for any sticky situations. Sol liked R2 with his sassy retorts and he somehow knew the human elements of sarcasm. He beeped jokes even she found funny, which were usually about Anakin's dangerous and thoughtless acts. She was glad to have the droid with them for their journey across borders.

'Anakin, Sol,' Obi-wan called and she turned, seeing the Master motion for them to come over to him.

'You two stay put on Naboo. Do not attract any attention. Do absolutely nothing without checking in with me, Master Yoda, or the council,' he instructed with eyes switching between the Padawans.

'Yes, Master,' they said in unison, scowling at each other after doing so.

'And work on being nice to each other,' Obi-wan instructed for the hundredth time, before turning to Padme. 'I will get to the bottom of this plot quickly, m'lady. You'll be back here in no time.'

'I will be most grateful for your speed, Master Jedi.'

Anakin exited the bus first with the bags in each hand. Padme followed and Sol was in tow with R2-D2. Obi-wan stood with Captain Typho and Dorme, their hopes high but dread in their stomachs.

'May the Force be with all of you,' Obi-wan called out and Anakin and Sol glanced back.

'And with you, Master!' Sol replied for them.