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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟏
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐃𝐔𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍

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Ten years had passed since Aurora was discovered to be force-sensitive. It had been ten years since she began her training under Master Yoda despite the rest of the Jedi Council being uncertain of his decision. It felt like the Naboo Training Academy all over again to the Jinn woman. At the academy, everyone looked down on her and believed she was only accepted because of her connection to Naboo's Queen. But they were soon proved wrong when they saw Aurora in action, and she was determined to prove the Jedi Council wrong as well.

When Aurora wasn't training or on a mission with the Jedi Grand Master, she was in the library. She spent her time there studying different lightsaber methods and the history of the Jedi. The Jinn woman knew that if she were ever to be truly accepted by the Jedi, she needed to know what they stood for. Aurora looked over and studied all of the books and holocrons located in the library, knowing that all the information would be valuable to her in the future. Thanks to her studies, hours of training, and what her parents taught her, Aurora was moving rather quickly in her Padawan learning.

The Jinn woman was currently walking through the halls of the Senate Building behind Master Yoda and a few other members of the Jedi Council. It didn't surprise Aurora when she heard the Supreme Chancellor wanted to meet with them. That seemed to be happening a lot more than usual lately. But what did surprise her was that she was allowed to attend the meeting. The brunette woman usually had to stand outside the door until they were finished, which lasted anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Now Aurora found herself standing behind her Master's chair, listening to the current disaster they were facing.

"I don't know how much longer I can hold off the vote, my friends," Palpatine announced as his eyes moved from one Jedi to the next, "more and more star systems are joining the Separatists."

"If they do break away-"

"I will not let this Republic that has stood for a thousand years be split in two," the Supreme Chancellor declared while trying to keep himself calm and collected, "my negotiations will not fail."

"If they do, you must realize there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic," Mace Windu continued with his previous statement, "we're keepers of the peace, not soldiers."

"Master Yoda," Palpatine called out, drawing the Jedi Grandmaster's attention to him after seeing the latter taking a long moment to think, "do you think it will really come to war?"

Everyone instantly turned their attention toward Yoda as silence fell upon them. What felt like an eternity finally passed when the Jedi Grandmaster began speaking. "Hm, the dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is."

Before anyone had a chance to respond, a small hologram popped up on the Supreme Chancellor's desk. Aurora just stared at the image as the man began speaking to Palpatine in Huttese, a language the Jinn woman still hadn't picked up on. Their conversation continued for another moment as the Jedi watched, wanting nothing more than to continue their previous conversation. It wasn't long after that when Palpatine responded, sending confusion throughout Aurora's body. "Send them in. We will discuss this matter later."

Not even a second after that passed when the doors behind them opened. Aurora quickly glanced back to find the one person she had been wanting to see. Padmé was walking into the Supreme Chancellor's office with Jar Jar and the rest of her supporters following behind her. After hearing about what happened to her when she arrived on Coruscant, Aurora was happier than ever to see her old friend.

"Rora!" Jar Jar shouted as he rushed toward her before pulling her in for a bone-crushing hug, "It's been a longo timen! Mesa missed yousa!"

"I missed you too, Jar Jar," Aurora responded with a small laugh after the Gungan set her back down on her feet.

It wasn't long after that when Aurora and Padmé's eyes met, causing a smile to appear on the Senator's lips while the Padawan's grin did nothing but grow. The two women met in the center of the room and greeted each other with a long overdue embrace. Unknown to both of them, Palpatine was watching the two of them with an unreadable look in his eyes. Their reunion lasted for a moment longer before they both ended the hug at the same time. The two of them just stared at each other for a long moment before Aurora opened her mouth to speak. "I heard about what happened on the landing platform. You don't understand how happy I am to see you alive."

"Thank you, Ro," Padmé responded before her attention fell on the people standing behind her best friend, "do you have any idea who was behind this attack?"

"Our intelligence points to disgruntled spice miners on the moons of Naboo," Mace told the Senator while Aurora took a step back to stand beside Yoda.

Padmé kept her eyes glued to the Jedi Master as he approached her before he stopped a few feet away from her. The Amidala girl just stared at him in silence until she found the right words to respond. "I think that Count Dooku was behind it."

"He is a political idealist, not a murderer," Ki-Adi-Mundi retaliated, causing a wave of irritation to wash over Aurora, only for her to force it away.

"You know, milady, Count Dooku was once a Jedi," the Windu man declared, drawing the Naboo Senator's attention back to him before he continued speaking, "he couldn't assassinate anyone. It's not in his character."

"But for certain, Senator, in grave danger you are," the Jedi Grandmaster added while the Jinn woman let out a relieved sigh, grateful that someone other than her was concerned about Padmé's safety.

"Master Jedi," Palpatine called out, pulling everyone's attention to him as the Supreme Chancellor stared out the window overlooking Coruscant, "may I suggest the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces."

"Do you really think that's a wise decision under these stressful times?" Senator Organa questioned as he took a few steps forward to stand beside Padmé.

"Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe-"

"The situation is that serious? No, but I do, Senator," Palpatine interrupted the Amidala girl as he turned away from the window to meet everyone's gazes. He let the silence surround them for a moment before he continued speaking. "I realize all too well that additional security might be disruptive for you, but perhaps someone you're familiar with. Like Aurora. I'm sure it will assist her in furthering her training and she knows you better than anyone. Or an old friend, like Master Kenobi. That's possible."

"It is up to Master Yoda to decide if Aurora takes this assignment," Mace announced while Aurora did her best to hide her feelings about not only working with Padmé again but also the Kenobi man, "as for Obi-Wan, he's just returned from a border dispute on Ansion."

"Do it for me, milady. Please?" Palpatine said while focusing his attention on the young Senator, "the thought of losing you...is unbearable."

"With you Aurora will stay," Yoda told the Amidala girl, who immediately looked up at her friend before sending her a small smile, which Aurora gladly returned.

It wasn't long after that when Mace took a step forward and began speaking. "I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, milady."

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Aurora couldn't help but smile as she stood beside Padmé on the balcony overlooking the ecumenopolis planet. Even though she knew it was a mission and not a friendly reunion, the Jinn woman was just happy to see her friend again. Padmé was always the one who made Aurora feel connected to the world after her parents vanished. She was the one who made the Jinn woman feel as though she wasn't alone. And if Aurora was being honest, she needed that now more than ever. Especially since most of the Jedi Council was still against Yoda training her.

Standing on Padmé's other side was one of her handmaidens, Dormé, and her new captain of the Royal Naboo Security Forces, Gregar Typho. Aurora was surprised and a little disappointed when she saw him with the Naboo Senator instead of Captain Panka. But it had been ten years and Aurora knew things were bound to change. Even though she missed seeing Captain Panaka, Aurora knew that Gregar would take good care of Padmé. He was the former captain's nephew after all.

It wasn't long before a familiar sensation washed over Aurora, causing her smile to falter. It had been a long time since she sensed the newcomers' presence and she was still having mixed feelings about it. The last time she saw Obi-Wan was a week after he brought her to meet with Master Yoda. He was discussing his plans with his new Padawan and where he intended to begin. To Aurora's surprise, their conversation ended with the Kenobi man voicing his concerns about training Qui-Gon's niece. She walked out of the room then and there without looking back. Ever since that day, she wasn't only determined to prove the Jedi Council wrong, but Obi-Wan as well.

Not even a second after she felt their presence passed when Aurora heard Jar Jar shouting Obi-Wan's name, confirming her senses. The Jinn woman turned around just in time to see the Gungan leading the Knight and his Padawan into the Senator's living quarters.

"Senator Padmé," Jar Jar called out, causing the Senator and Captain Typho to copy Aurora's actions and turn around to look at the Gungan and the Jedi, "mesa palos here! Lookie, lookie, Senator. Desa Jedi arriven."

A large smile instantly appeared on Padmé's face as she crossed the room to greet the new arrivals. Aurora closely followed her with Dormé and Gregor behind her. Obi-Wan instantly bowed toward the Naboo Senator before reaching a hand out to her as soon as she was close enough to him. "It's a great pleasure to see you again, milady."

"It's been far too long, Master Kenobi," Padmé responded before turning her attention toward the boy standing behind him. It only took her a moment to realize exactly who he was. "Ani? My goodness, you've grown."

"So have you. Grown more beautiful, I mean. Well, for a Senator, I mean," Anakin responded, causing Aurora to cringe while trying her best not to chuckle. Her reaction made the Skywalker boy glance over at her before a genuine smile appeared on his face. "It's nice to see you again, Aurora."

"You as well, Anakin," the Jinn woman responded while trying her best not to look over at Obi-Wan, who was acting as if she wasn't even in the room.

The smile on Padmé's face did nothing but grow as a laugh passed over her lips. "Ani, you'll always be that little boy I know on Tatooine."

"Our presence here will be invisible, milady, I can assure you," Obi-Wan responded as he followed Padmé toward the sofas in the center of the room, passing Aurora without so much as looking at her.

The Jinn woman did her best to push away her annoyance as she followed them and sat down on the other side of Anakin. Unknown to Aurora, the Amidala girl glanced over at her friend from her place between Jar Jar and Dormé. She could tell the Jinn woman was uncomfortable about something and she was trying to figure out what it was. However, her attention was soon drawn back to the situation when the Captain of her Guard began speaking.

"I'm Captain Typho of Her Majesty's security service," Gregor introduced himself to the Knight and his Padawan, "Queen Jamilla has been informed of your assignment. I am grateful you are here, Master Kenobi. The situation is more dangerous than the Senator will admit."

"I don't need more security. I need answers," Padmé retaliated as she looked between the three Jedi sitting across from her, "I wanna know who's trying to kill me."

"We are here to protect you, Senator, not to start an investigation," Obi-Wan responded in a calm tone. His composure instantly reminded Aurora of Qui-Gon and made a wave of sadness wash over her, something that didn't go unnoticed by the Kenobi man.

However, before the Jedi Knight had much time to think about the feelings he sensed in the Jinn woman, his Padawan began to speak. "We will find out who's trying to kill you, Padmé. I promise you."

A hint of irritation appeared in Obi-Wan's eyes as his attention moved to Anakin, who was still staring at the Naboo Senator. "We will not exceed our mandate, my young Padawan learner."

The Skywalker boy glanced over at his Master with a blank look in his eyes before his gaze settled back on Padmé. It wasn't long after that when he turned back to face the Kenobi man. "I meant that in the interest of protecting her, Master. Of course."

"We will not go through this exercise again, Anakin, and you will pay attention to my lead," Obi-Wan declared before looking back over at the Amidala girl and opening his mouth to speak, only for him to be interrupted by his Padawan.

"Why?" Anakin questioned, causing the Kenobi man's attention to return to the boy sitting next to him while Padmé and Aurora shared an uncomfortable look. An awkward silence settled around them for what felt like an eternity before the Skywalker boy continued speaking. "Why else do you think we were assigned to her if not to find the killer? Protection is a job for local security, not Jedi. It's overkill, Master. Investigation is implied in our mandate."

"We will do exactly as the Council has instructed," the Kenobi man stated while staring at his Padawan with no emotion in his eyes, "and you will learn your place, young one."

The tension in the room did nothing but grow as Anakin looked to the floor beneath his feet. Obi-Wan kept his eyes glued to the Skywalker boy for another moment before turning his attention back to Padmé, who seemed to be at a loss for words after what she had just witnessed. What felt like an eternity passed before Aurora found the silence surrounding them to be unbearable. So after letting out a long sigh, the Jinn woman cleared her throat and began speaking. "Perhaps our presence will be enough to allow this mystery to be solved."

"We can only hope," Padmé responded before getting to her feet, causing everyone else in the room to copy her actions, "now, if you'll excuse me, I will retire."

All eyes were on the Amidala girl as she and Dormé left the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Captain Typho let out a long sigh, drawing the Jedi and Gungan's attention to him. "I know I'll feel better having you here. I'll have an officer stationed on every floor, and I'll be in the control center downstairs."

After receiving a small nod in response from the Jedi Knight, Gregor walked out of the room while Obi-Wan made his way to the balcony. Aurora hesitated for a moment as she watched the Kenobi man go before deciding to follow him. It wasn't long before they found themselves standing on the balcony and looking out at Coruscant in silence, neither of them wanting to speak first. But just like before, the silence became too much for Aurora. It always had, which was something that drove Master Yoda crazy.

"You'd think Anakin would have more respect for you after ten years," the Jinn woman said, causing Obi-Wan to look over at her for the first time since he arrived, "I guess having a Padawan isn't as easy as you thought it would be."

The Kenobi man couldn't help but scoff as he looked back out at the ecumenopolis planet. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy. But, yes, Anakin is making his training a lot harder than it needs to be."

It wasn't long after that when silence surrounded them once again. However, this time it didn't last as long and it wasn't Aurora who broke it. "Master Yoda told me your training is going very well, better than he expected."

"Yeah," was all the Jinn woman said in response before a mischievous smile appeared on her lips, "we never fell into a nest of gundarks."

"You heard about that?"

"Everyone heard about that."

Aurora's smile did nothing but grow when she saw a small one appear on Obi-Wan's face. To her dismay, his soon faded as he turned his attention back to the city. "I'm sorry for what I said. It wasn't my place to say whether or not you should be trained."

"You're right, it wasn't...but I do forgive you," the Jinn woman responded, earning a shocked look from the Kenobi man. Aurora couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, only for her to force herself to calm down when she remembered why they were really there. "We're gonna have to save our heartfelt reunion for later. Right now, we need to focus on keeping Padmé alive."

Obi-Wan just stared at her for a moment, slightly impressed at how quickly she switched from a casual to a business conversation. It wasn't long after that when he sent her a small nod before they made their way back into the living quarters. Aurora wasn't surprised to see a distressed look on Anakin's face as he talked to Jar Jar. And at any other time, she would've thought it was sweet that he cared so much about Padmé's safety. But at that moment, the Jinn woman just wanted to be sure she got her best friend back to Naboo alive.

"Shesa happy. Happier den mesa seein her in a longo time," the Gungan announced as Aurora and Obi-Wan stopped next to him.

"You're focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts," the Kenobi man told his Padawan before a small smile appeared on his face, "she was pleased to see us. Now, let's check security."

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