"Assassins did have a code after all. It was dishonorable to kill someone if you weren't being paid"

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Chapter Seven

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"Without Senate approval, we can't move forward with peace talks with the Separatists on our own."

"This is not just an issue of the Senate anymore. If the tensions continue to rise between the Separatists and the Republic then skirmishes are likely to occur. We must work for peace before innocent lives are put on the line. It is our duty as peacekeepers-" you paused when a knock came from the door. The Reconciliation Council Padawan stepped in sheepishly.

"Apologies. The High Council has requested Master Pavond immediately."

Letting out an inaudible huff, you turned back to your fellow Council members and bowed, "I apologize, but I must leave. I will read over the meeting notes when I have the time."

Exiting the council chambers, you sent a smile to the Council Padawan and went on your way, releasing your frustration into the Force. You were left to stew in your thoughts until you were halfway to the High Council chambers, where two familiar Force presences intertwined with yours in a way that'd become natural over the years.

"Master (Y/n)!"

Spinning around, you smiled brightly as Anakin ran up to you, "Anakin! How did your mission go?"

"Very well! But it was kind of boring."

"No fighting then?" You looked behind Anakin to ask Obi-Wan that since he would explain rather than just complain.

"None. The border dispute was settled easily with a new treaty."

"Only because both of the leaders were infatuated with you," Anakin smirked, his complaints about the boring mission long forgotten, "You should have seen it, Master, they were all over him."

Raising a brow, you looked back to your husband, who was flushing an impressive shade of red, "Really?"

"Anakin is exaggerating. I'm sure all they felt was a healthy amount of respect for me as a representative of the Jedi."

Anakin scoffed, "Yeah, that's why one of them asked for your hand in marriage."

That pulled a laugh out of you. Anakin seemed pleased at that and walked ahead of you and Obi-Wan. The two of you shared a look behind his back.

Never subtle, is he? You asked sarcastically through your Soul Bond - strengthened and mastered over the years to the point of holding full conversations rather than just exchanging impressions.

It's either other marriages or ours he talks about. I prefer the teasing, Obi-Wan replied back.

The two of you had informed Anakin of your marriage two years ago when he was seventeen - three years after you got married. By that point, you agreed he was old enough to know the importance of discretion and understand how you could be married and not forsake the Code at the same time. He was upset at first for not being told but came to understand rather quickly. According to him there were secret marriages between slaves too, so he'd always known how to keep a secret like that for other people. Helping him understand how your marriage worked in relation to the Code was a longer process that resulted in an even longer conversation about you being a Gray Jedi. Sometimes he still seemed confused about all that - about how one could be Light and Dark at the same time - but he took it in stride.

"How was your meeting with the Council of Reconciliation?" Obi-Wan asked, the two of you still exchanging amusement through your bond.

"Sometimes I wonder why I accepted the position in the first place," you grumbled.

"Well, they did offer you the position of Master if you joined the Council."

You scoffed, "Only because there's never been a Knight on one of the Councils before. The High Council said they wanted me there to provide a more neutral view, they said they thought a Gray Jedi would 'help with harsher negotiations'. But there haven't been any negotiations. They're too afraid of angering the Senate and I'm ready to rip my hair out because of it."

Sometimes you wondered if the reason Gray Jedi separated themselves from the High Council was because of mixed views or plain out frustration. Accepting a position on the Council of Reconciliation was a hard decision to make in the first place. Yes, you had hopes of coming to a peaceful agreement with Darksiders like Count Dooku, but you would also be embroiling yourself in the higher authority of the Jedi Order. In the end, Obi-Wan convinced you to say yes. The Council of Reconciliation was a far cry from being on the High Council, and you had hoped you could help. Those hopes were dwindling now.

"We just have to hope the Senate will see sense in involving the Jedi sooner rather than later," Obi-Wan sent soothing feelings through your bond, and you were thankful for it as it relieved your headache.

"Where are you going now?"

"The High Council summoned Anakin and I as soon as we landed."

Humming under your breath, you said, "They summoned me as well."

It was likely you were being sent on another joint mission, then. It happened often enough throughout the years- with Obi-Wan as the Negotiator and you as his translator. (Jedi learned many languages growing up, but hundreds were used throughout the Republic and sentient translators were often received better than droids) The three of you were a force to be reckoned with, in negotiations or in battle when . Obi-Wan was a Master of Soresu and therefore your defense. Anakin was well on his way to mastery of Djem So and therefore often took offense. As a Master of Niman, you filled in the gaps for both of them. Whispers of "the Team" often circled around the Temple after particularly adventurous missions.

"Did they tell you why they summoned us?" You asked. The Council Padawan hadn't said anything, but perhaps Obi-Wan heard more.

"It's related to Senator Amidala."

"Ah, no wonder Anakin is walking so quickly, then," you chuckled, "He's always had a bit of a crush on her, hasn't he?"

"He looks at her and remembers being freed, it's understandable that there's admiration there."

Anakin was waiting for you impatiently when you stepped into the elevator leading up to the High Council chambers. Obi-Wan sent a scolding sort of amusement through your Familial Bond that had Anakin smirking.

The elevator stopped and opened, and the three of you stepped out. The Council Padawan on duty waved all of you in without pause.

"Masters," the three of you bowed in greeting.

"We have summoned the three of you for a mission," Master Windu got straight to the point, "There has been a recent assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, and we have reason to believe it will happen again. The Chancellor has requested guards for her."

Something curled uncomfortably in your gut at the mention of the Chancellor, though you'd never been able to figure out why exactly you felt that way aside from his fixation on Anakin. He'd summoned him several times during his first month with you, and when it became clear you'd always be there with him the summonings lessened. They picked up again when Anakin switched to Obi-Wan, but Obi-Wan always went with him per your insistence and they once again lessened.

After that, direct summonings were a rare occurrence. Chance meetings and personal debriefs after missions were much more likely. But, at least twice a year both you and Obi-Wan suddenly became very busy or were sent on missions Anakin couldn't join. He met with the Chancellor alone then, and was a bit off when the two of you came back- sometimes angry, or conflicted, or sad. It took either a good spar or long meditation to help him. Anakin always assured you nothing inappropriate happened, but his wariness never waned. He'd taken your initial warning to heart, about what the Chancellor might do and what he might say.

Suffice to say you were always uncertain when it came to direct requests from the Chancellor.

"Guard Senator Amidala, Obi-Wan and Anakin will."

"And what of me, Masters?" You questioned.

"The authorities are already looking into these assassination attempts, however, Senator Amidala believes that Count Dooku is behind the attempts," Master Plo informed you.

"Do you share her beliefs?" You asked slowly and carefully, aware of the tension in the room. Count Dooku was Master Yoda's Padawan, Obi-Wan's Grandmaster, and was once a close friend of yours. None of you wanted to believe it, but if the evidence was there then...

"Once a Jedi Count Dooku was. Not in his nature assassination is," Master Yoda said surely, "Many planets in the Separatist Alliance there are. Another, perhaps."

"If a member of the Separatists is truly attempting to kill Senator Amidala then the chances of negotiations before war will become basically nothing," you frowned.

"That is why you must investigate these attempts. If it is truly the Separatists attempting to silence the Senator then we must rethink reconciliation."

"And yet you send a member of the Council of Reconciliation on this investigation."

"More than a diplomat you are," Master Yoda's voice held that tone that usually came up when hinting toward your darker inclinations. The Council wanted you to investigate for the Senator, yes, but also to see if there was any involvement of the Sith.

"Understood, Masters."

"All of you will report to Senator Amidala's apartment immediately. May the Force be with you."

"And with you."

All of you bowed again and left the meeting.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Obi-Wan mumbled.

"For once I'm inclined to agree with you."

~*~

Anakin's nerves were so strong they were slipping through his shields and into the Familial Bond. From the way Obi-Wan was grimacing, they were likely slipping into their training bond as well.

"You seem a little on edge," Obi-Wan finally stated the obvious.

"Not at all."

"I haven't felt you this tense since we fell into the nest of gundarks."

"You fell into that nightmare Master, and I rescued you. Remember?"

"Oh... yes."

Quiet laughs filled the elevator from all three of you. Anakin was the first to stop, that nervous look taking over his features again. Placing a comforting hand on his arm, you smiled reassuringly, "Relax, Anakin. Take a deep breath."

"I haven't seen her in ten years, Masters."

"Then you can take the time to get to know each other again. Neither of you are the same, but that doesn't mean she won't recognize you. It will be alright."

The elevator opened, and Jar Jar Binks was there to greet you.

"Obi! Obi! Obi! Mesa sooo smilen to see'en yousa."

Obi-Wan's exasperation flooded the bond. You turned away to hide your smirk, meeting Anakin's amused gaze. Obi-Wan's suffering always managed to take him out of his moods, it annoyed Obi-Wan and amused you to no end.

"It's good to see you too, Jar Jar."

"Senator Padmé! Mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator. Desa Jedi arriven."

Turning away from the window, Senator Padmé approached with the grace of a queen. Considering that she was one before becoming Senator, it wasn't surprising in the slightest.

"It's a great pleasure to see you again, M'Lady," Obi-Wan bowed first, then shook Padmé's outstretched hand.

"It has been far too long Knight Kenobi," Padmé's gaze went from Obi-Wan to Anakin, "Ani? My goodness, you've grown."

"So have you... grown more beautiful. For a Senator, I mean."

Hiding a laugh as a cough, you took Padmé's attention away from Anakin and he sent a strong wave of gratitude through the bond. You hadn't done it on purpose, but you'd take the thanks anyway.

"I am Master (Y/n) Pavond, Senator," you introduced yourself, shaking Padmé's hand as well.

"It's an honor to meet you, Master Pavond." A small flicker of confusion could be felt from her before it was covered, likely due to your young age or presence entirely. She had good shields for someone who wasn't Force-sensitive.

"Our presence will be invisible, M'Lady, I assure you."

The three of you, Padmé, Padmé's handmaiden, and Jar Jar sat on one of the two couches in the room.

"I am Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service. Queen Jamilla has been informed of your assignment. I am very grateful you are here, Masters. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security, I need answers. I want to know who is trying to kill me."

"That is why I am here, Senator," you assured the woman, "Whilst Obi-Wan and Anakin will guard you, I'll be investigating separately from the authorities here on Coruscant."

Seemingly relieved, Senator Amidala sent you a grateful nod, "Thank you, Master Pavond. Now if you will excuse me, I will retire."

With a slight bow, Padmé and her handmaiden left the room.

"Well, I know I feel a lot better having you here. I'll have an officer on every floor and I'll be at the command centre downstairs."

"Thank you, Captain Typho. If I may, I'd like to ask for your account about your landing on Coruscant. From my understanding, the bomb was placed on the landing platform..."

~*~

Yawning, you looked out at the Coruscant skyline. It was the planet that never sleeps, always busy and always buzzing in the force. You rarely left the Temple on Coruscant for that very reason. Now, with only two other Force users to act as a buffer, your senses were constantly bombarded by wisps of Light and Dark. The Force was different on Coruscant compared to other planets. The city was part of it, the Temple was another, there were other reasons you were sure but you never took the time to ponder what they were.

"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin will try that way. Any activity up here?"

"Quiet as a tomb. I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her."

Pulling out a view scanner from his belt, Obi-Wan frowned at what he saw, "What's going on?"

"She covered the camera. I don't think she wanted us watching her."

Putting the view scanner back on his belt, Obi-Wan huffed in frustration, "What is she thinking?"

"She programmed Artoo to warn us if there's an intruder."

"It's not an intruder I'm worried about. There are many other ways to kill a Senator."

"I know, but we also want to catch this assassin. Don't we, Master?"

Sending Anakin a look, Obi-Wan's face lit up with realization, "You're using her as bait?"

Cutting in before they could start to bicker again, you said, "I approved the plan, Obi-Wan. Both of us have been scanning the room with the Force consistently. The assassin is very determined, they'll try again and it's the easiest way to catch them."

Sighing tiredly, Obi-Wan crossed his arms but didn't argue. Despite the dangers, he knew it was the best way to catch your culprit, "You look tired, Anakin."

"I don't sleep well, anymore."

Concern-why-assurance-trustus went through the Familial Bond from you and Obi-Wan simultaneously. At times it was easier than words, less complicated, and less likely to be misunderstood. Anakin was sensitive, and often overthought things - he took after Obi-Wan in that aspect - and words could be tricky depending on his mood.

"I keep dreaming of my mother. She's in pain, dying. But they don't feel like dreams."

"Have you spoken to her?"

Anakin nodded, "More often now than I used to. She's fine, safe in Nalov. My dreams don't feel like they take place there either. They feel like..."

"Yes?" You encouraged Anakin to go on.

"They feel like they take place on Tatooine. But that doesn't make sense. Neither of us have been there in years, and we aren't planning on going back."

You frowned. It sounded like he was having Force visions of an impossible future. You'd had a vision once or twice, and Obi-Wan had them frequently when he was younger and none of them were ever like that.

"Maybe it's like a shatterpoint," you theorized. Obi-Wan and Anakin looked at you in confusion, "Well shatterpoints represent possible futures, right? Mace sees them around the time they happen when he's conscious. Maybe you have a form of that where you're seeing what could have happened when you're asleep. A future that could have been."

Anakin shuddered at the thought, "If that's the case then I'm glad you got my mother off Tatooine. I don't want her to suffer-"

All three of you turned to face the door to the Senator's room. Without prompting you sprinted down the hall and burst into the room. Anakin had his lightsaber on and cut through the bugs climbing up the Senator's bed before she could even wake.

Crash!

"Kriff, Obi-Wan," you hissed, cursing your husband to Sith Hell's for jumping out a window with nothing but a small drone to keep him safe from Coruscant's traffic, "Anakin, come on! Stay here, Senator!"

When you got down to the garage, Anakin ran along a line of perfectly fine speeders, "We'll need a multiple person speeder with an open top-"

"This one," you jumped into a yellow two-person speeder, "I don't care if he has to sit in my lap, we need to move!"

Nodding, Anakin got into the pilot's seat and took off. Closing your eyes, you reached out to your husband in the Force, directing Anakin by either pointing or shouting out directions.

"Down!"

"Down?"

"He's falling, go down!"

Anakin finally caught sight of Obi-Wan, and sped straight and down in order to catch Obi-Wan before he hit another speeder. When he was just above you, you reached up and got a tight hold on his wrist. Tugging him down, and landed straight on your lap. Wrapping your arms tightly around his middle, you hoped Anakin wouldn't attempt any spins.

"What took you so long?"

"Oh, you know, Master, I couldn't find a speeder I really liked, with an open cockpit and with the right speed capabilities. Master (Y/n) ended up choosing for me, so it's their fault you don't have a seatbelt."

"I'd rather not have a seatbelt than be dead," Obi-Wan quipped back, "If you spent as much time working on your saber skills as you do on your wit, young Padawan, you would rival Master Yoda as a swordsman."

"I thought I already did."

"Only in your mind, my very young apprentice."

It was at this moment that Anakin dove straight down. Tightening your grip on Obi-Wan, you leaned back as far as you could. You loved flying, you really did, but Anakin made you want to stay grounded.

The speeder you were chasing deftly avoided a large cruiser, a cruiser the three of you were about to run into.

"Pull up Anakin," Obi-Wan ordered.

Anakin laughed and continued his dive.

"Anakin, if you don't pull up I'm going to kill you!"

With a final laugh, Anakin pulled up, scraping the top of the cruiser.

"You know I don't like it when you do that."

"Sorry, Master. I forgot you don't like flying."

"I don't mind flying, but what you're doing is suicide!"

Your target dipped into a power field, and you got a bad feeling. Anakin wasn't slowing down or making any attempt to turn.

"Anakin!" He went through the field, "How m-many times have I to-told you not to mess with power fields!"

All of you shook off the residual electricity beneath your skin when you emerged. Your culprit veered off into a tunnel, and instead of following Anakin continued to go straight.

"Where are you going? He went that way."

"Master, if we keep this up any longer that creep is gonna end up deep friend, and personally I'd like very much to find out who he is and who he's working for. This is a shortcut... I think."

After a sharp turn to the left and another two turns to the right, there was no sign of the culprit. Anakin stopped the speeder, glancing off the side with a searching gaze.

"Well, you've lost them."

"I'm deeply sorry, Master."

"If we go back to the apartments I can probably track down where the bugs come from-"

"If you'll excuse me," Anakin jumped out of the speeder.

"Every kriffing mission," you hissed as Obi-Wan slid off your lap and into the driver's seat.

"I hate it when he does that."

Keeping an eye on Anakin, Obi-Wan accelerated the speeder once again to catch up with your would-be assassin. Hopefully, by the time you got there Anakin wouldn't be in need of further rescuing.

"I feel as though this chase won't be as cut-and-dry- lightsaber!" Reaching up, you plucked Anakin's lightsaber out of the air and kept it tightly held in your hand.

Letting out an irritated huff that you knew would end in a lecture, Obi-Wan kept his focus on Anakin and your culprit. The ship started going down, losing control. Eventually, it tipped enough that Anakin slid off, rolling on the ground to avoid injury.

"Park there," you pointed at an empty spot just ahead of where Anakin was running. Hopping out of the vehicle, you rushed to catch up with your honorary-Padawan.

"Anakin!"

"She went into that club, Master."

"Patience. Listen to the Force. She went in there to hide, not to run."

Holding out Anakin's lightsaber, you lifted a brow when he took it sheepishly, "Try not to lose it next time. There are only so many crystals on Illum that will work for you."

"Yes, Master."

Obi-Wan sighed, leading the way into the club, "Why do I think you are going to be the death of me?"

"Don't say that Master. You're the closest thing I have to a father."

It would have been heart-warming if Anakin hadn't slipped up and called Obi-Wan Dad before, that was one of the greatest moments of your life and the looks on both of their faces were legendary.

"Father figure to you or not, you are responsible for a lot of gray hairs," you joked, sensing a lot of eyes on you, "Let's split up and look around."

Slipping into the crowd, you wrapped the Force around yourself to exude nothere-gone-harmless, allowing people's eyes to slip right over you. Honestly, it was more for your own comfort than it was to find who you were chasing. Clubs and bars were always dangerous places to be as an Otha with a disguise.

Keeping to the outskirts of the bar, you kept an eye on Obi-Wan and Anakin whilst observing the patrons at the same time. There was a flicker of movement in the crowd heading straight for Obi-Wan, and you sent a warning through your Soul Bond.

Activating his lightsaber, Obi-Wan cut off the assassin's blaster arm. They cried out in pain. Both you and Anakin were there in seconds, Anakin stepping in to support the assassin.

"Jedi business, go back to your drinks," you dismissed, finding that your calm tone relaxed many of the tense patrons.

Practically dragging the assassin out onto the street, Obi-Wan gently laid her on the ground.

"Do you know who it was you were trying to kill?"

"It was a Senator from Naboo," they gritted out.

"And who hired you?"

"It was just a job."

Kneeling in front of the woman, you tilted your head and reached for her mind. All assassins knew how to shield, but in her pain, they had become weaker. Pushing through her shields, she let out an audible grunt of discomfort at that. You twisted her mind, just a bit, easing the pain of her lost arm for a split second before allowing it to return.

"The pain can be gone if you just tell us... Zam Wessel. Or, that pain can become a lot worse."

"Jedi don't torture people."

Smiling ferally, you responded, "Not physically Zam. Who's going to look into your shattered mind and see anything more than a woman driven mad by a traumatic injury?"

Gulping, Zam was more than willing to share information now, "It was a bounty hunter called-"

FTZZZ

Zam twitched, then died.

Whipping your head to the direction the dart came from, you caught a glimpse of blue and silver armor and a jetpack before the person took off and was gone.

"Toxic dart," Obi-Wan removed the offending weapon from Zam's neck, "And that person almost looked like-"

"A Mandalorian. Blue and silver, not Kyr'tsad."

"A New Mandalorian would never dare take up a bounty."

"Which means they're either True or they never aligned themselves."

"What are you talking about?" Anakin butted in.

Holding your hand out for the dart, Obi-Wan carefully dropped it into your hand, "We have a lead. Two actually. This investigation might be easier than I thought."

It was not going to be easier than you thought and you were naive to think otherwise.