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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟐
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐄𝐃𝐈'𝐒 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐔𝐈𝐓

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After checking the security downstairs with Obi-Wan, he and Aurora made their way back up to Padmé's living quarters. Neither of them said a word as they rode up in the elevator. Even though they decided to leave the past in the past, there was some tension between them. The Kenobi man was still weary of bringing Qui-Gon's niece into the Jedi order while Aurora was still determined to prove his feelings wrong. But both of them knew they had to ignore the strain between them to ensure that Padmé was safe.

It wasn't long before the elevator doors opened, allowing the Jedi to enter the living room. Aurora wasn't surprised when they found Anakin pacing around the room. It didn't take a Jedi's senses to see that the Skywalker boy was on edge when he arrived with Obi-Wan.

"Captain Typho has more than enough men downstairs. No assassin would try that way," the Kenobi man announced, drawing Anakin's attention toward him and Aurora as they walked further into the room, "any activity up here?"

"Quiet as a tomb," the Skywalker boy responded while trying his best to keep his genuine emotions hidden, "I don't like just waiting here for something to happen to her."

A small sigh passed over Aurora's lips as she pulled a device off her best and stared at the screen, only for her eyebrows to scrunch together in confusion. "What happened to the cameras?"

"She covered them," Anakin announced while glancing back at the hall leading to Padmé's bedroom before turning his attention back to the Jinn woman, "I don't think she liked me watching her."

"I wouldn't either," the brunette woman muttered under her breath.

"What is she thinking?" Obi-Wan sighed as he walked across the room before stopping at the end of the hall that led to the Senator's sleeping quarters.

"She programmed R2 to warn us if there is an intruder," the Skywalker boy explained, earning a slightly annoyed look from Aurora while the Kenobi man let out another sigh.

"There are many other ways to kill a Senator," Obi-Wan retaliated while glancing back at his Padawan.

"I know," Anakin responded before falling silent as he glanced between the two other Jedi in the room. To Aurora, it looked as though he was trying to decide if he should continue his thought. That alone was enough to cause a wave of fear to wash over the Jinn woman. It wasn't long after that when the Skywalker boy sighed and continued speaking. "But we also want to catch this assassin, don't we, Master?"

Obi-Wan's attention instantly snapped back to his Padawan while Aurora stared at Anakin with disbelief in her eyes. "You're using her as bait."

"It was her idea," the Skywalker boy announced as he tried not to squirm under their stares, "don't worry. No harm will come to her. I can sense everything going on in that room. Trust me."

"Oh, that's very comforting," Aurora scoffed, ignoring the irritated look she received from the Padawan standing before her.

The Kenobi man's eyes simply scanned over Anakin before he looked back in the direction of Padmé's room. "It's too risky. Besides, your senses aren't that attuned, my young apprentice."

"And yours are?" Anakin retaliated, earning another annoyed look from his Master.

Obi-Wan just stared at him for a moment before opening his mouth to respond. "Possibly."

The Skywalker boy let out a long sigh as he walked out onto the balcony. Aurora and Obi-Wan watched Anakin as he stared out into the distance before exchanging a concerned look. While the Kenobi man was worried about his Padawan's well-being, all the Jinn woman could think about was his obvious feelings for Padmé. It worried her that he didn't even attempt to hide it, and what made it worse was that Aurora knew Padmé felt the same. With being a Jedi and a Senator, neither of them could act upon how they felt. But the Jinn woman also knew that two young people would do anything to be together.

"You look tired," Obi-Wan said, drawing the Jinn woman out of her thoughts as Anakin looked back at the two of them.

The Skywalker boy hesitated for a moment before sending his Master a small nod. "I don't sleep well anymore."

"Because of your mother?" the Kenobi man asked, making Aurora want to step away from their obviously private conversation, but she wasn't willing to leave Padmé behind.

Anakin nodded in response once again before letting out a long sigh and continuing to speak. "I don't know why I keep dreaming about her."

"If it makes you feel any better, I dream about my parents too. I have since they vanished," Aurora announced, drawing both Anakin and Obi-Wan's attention toward her, "Master Yoda says that it's my way of trying to connect with them and fill the void they left behind. He's been teaching me how to use them to my strengths. Maybe you can too."

The Kenobi man just stared at the woman next to him for a moment before clearing his throat and looking back over at his Padawan. "Dreams also pass in time."

"I'd much rather dream about Padmé," Anakin announced, earning an eye roll from Aurora and a scoff from Obi-Wan as the Skywalker boy walked past them and into the living room, "just being around her again is...intoxicating."

The Jinn woman couldn't help but cringe as she and Obi-Wan followed the young Jedi back inside. It wasn't long after that when the Kenobi man responded to his Padawan. "Be mindful of your thoughts, Anakin. They betray you. You've made a commitment to the Jedi Order, a commitment not easily broken. And don't forget, she's a politician and they're not to be trusted."

Aurora let out a scoff, drawing their attention toward her. She remained silent for another moment before deciding to voice her thoughts. "I seem to remember a time when you did trust her. Or do you only trust queens?"

Obi-Wan simply rolled his eyes at the brunette woman as he opened his mouth to speak, only for Anakin to cut him off before he had the chance. "She's not like the others in the Senate, Master."

The Kenobi man let out another long sigh while turning to face his Padawan. "It is my experience that Senators focus only on pleasing those who fund their campaigns, and they're in no means scared of forgetting the niceties of democracy in order to get those funds."

"Not another lecture. At least not on the economics of politics," Anakin said, earning an annoyed look from Obi-Wan while Aurora stared at the hall leading to Padmé's room. There was a strange feeling forming in the pit of her stomach and she didn't like it. But she couldn't tell if it was just her nerves or something she should act upon, which was something else she was still trying to master. "And besides, you're generalizing. The Chancellor doesn't appear to be corrupt."

"Palpatine is a politician," Obi-Wan retaliated while crossing his arms and standing directly in front of Anakin, "I have observed that he is very clever in following the passions and the prejudices of the Senators."

"I think he's a good man," the Skywalker boy declared as Aurora began walking closer toward the hallway, her actions going unnoticed by her fellow Jedi, "my-"

"I sense it too," the Kenobi man announced before the three of them sprinted down the hallway. All Aurora could think about as she ran down the hallway was Padmé's safety. Despite what Obi-Wan might think, it wasn't because she was tasked with keeping the Senator alive, it was because she was her best friend. And the Jinn woman couldn't imagine living her life without the Amidala girl, even if they rarely saw each other.

It wasn't long before they finally reached Padmé's room to find two worm-like creatures crawling over her. Before Aurora had a chance to think, Anakin jumped in the air and sliced both of the bugs in half with his lightsaber. The Amidala girl instantly sat up in her bed and stared at Aurora, only for the latter's attention to move to something right outside the window. Chills ran throughout the Jinn woman's entire body after spotting a droid right outside, completely unaware of Obi-Wan noticing it too. Not even a second after that passed when the Kenobi man sprinted across the room before jumping out of the window, grabbing onto the droid as it flew away from the Senate Building.

"Did he just jump out the window?" Aurora questioned while staring at the hole that Obi-Wan left behind.

"Welcome to my life," Anakin responded before the two of them raced out of the room.

The Jinn woman followed the Padawan down the stairs, knowing that the elevator would take too much time. Their breathing was the only thing that could be heard while thoughts about Padmé and her safety bounced around in Aurora's head. Despite wanting nothing more than to catch her best friend's attacker, the Jinn woman was starting to think that leaving Padmé alone wasn't the best idea. But Aurora and Anakin had finally reached the ground floor and it was too late to turn back now.

Aurora ran beside Anakin as they ran past various speeders before the Skywalker boy settled for a bright yellow one. The Jinn woman didn't question anything as she hopped into the passenger seat. It wasn't long after that when he started the speeders and flew into the Coruscant airspace to find his Master. Aurora's hands were gripping the seat so tight that her knuckles turned while the Padawan flew through the traffic. What felt like an eternity passed before she spotted Obi-Wan freefalling through the air. Anakin hit the brakes to slow the speeder down and lined it up with his Master. The Kenobi man landed on the back of the vehicle before climbing into the empty seat beside Aurora.

"What took you two so long?" Obi-Wan questioned with a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Oh, you know, Master, I couldn't find a speeder that I really liked," Anakin responded with a hint of amusement in his voice, earning a slightly annoyed look from Aurora.

Not even a second after that passed when the Kenobi man pointed toward something in the distance. "There he is."

"With the open cockpit and the right speed capabilities," the Skywalker boy continued as he began flying in the direction his Master indicated.

"If you spent as much time practicing your saber techniques as you do your wit, you would rival Master Yoda as a swordsman," Obi-Wan retaliated while he and Aurora tightly held onto their seats due to Anakin's reckless flying.

"I thought I already did."

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

It wasn't long after that when Padmé's attacker dove while maneuvering their speeder around the ones flying in the opposite direction. The Skywalker boy soon followed their actions and forced their speeder to dive, causing Aurora's grip on her seat to tighten. She tried her best to keep her eyes open to help her allies keep track of who they were pursuing. But Anakin's flying eventually forced Aurora to close her eyes and pray that they would make it to the end of the pursuit alive.

The Jinn woman did her best to control her breathing as she felt Anakin move their speeder from side to side to avoid hitting those surrounding them. Just as she felt she had enough courage to open her eyes, she felt Obi-Wan tense beside her before Anakin started laughing uncontrollably. Their actions alone were enough for Aurora to shut her eyes even tighter.

"Pull up, Anakin," the Kenobi man pleaded with his Padawan while the latter continued to laugh, "pull up!"

It wasn't long after that when Aurora felt their speeder finally level out. A shaky breath passed over her lips as she forced herself to open her eyes. To her relief, they were no longer free falling through the air. However, her blood ran cold after looking back to see a ship much larger than theirs passing behind them. Even though Aurora didn't see what had happened a few seconds ago, she knew by the size of the other ship that she wouldn't have liked it.

"You know I don't like it when you do that," Obi-Wan muttered under his breath as he adjusted his position in the seat to be fully facing forward.

Aurora's eyes instantly widened as she looked between the Master and his Padawan. "He's done this before?"

"More times than I can count," the redheaded man announced, earning a small smirk from the Skywalker boy.

"Sorry, Master," Anakin said while keeping his eyes glued to the green speeder in front of them, "I forgot you don't like flying."

"I don't mind flying, but what you're doing is suicide," Obi-Wan retaliated right as the Skywalker boy made another sharp turn, earning a small yelp from the woman sitting between them.

It wasn't long before their pursuit brought them to one of the factories on Coruscant. Aurora's eyes instantly widened at the sight of the flames in the distance as they continued to fly toward them. Her grip on her seat became tighter, if that was even possible, as Anakin wove his way through the flames right behind Padmé's attacker. A wave of relief washed over the Jinn girl after their speeder leveled out, only for it to fade after watching their enemy blast the power couplings. Aurora heard Obi-Wan shouting at his Padawan, but she didn't hear what he said as electricity began flowing through her. The Jinn woman closed her eyes once again as the pain shot through her. It lasted for what felt like an eternity before finally fading away, causing Aurora to let out a long sigh as she opened her eyes.

"Remind me not to fly with either of you anymore," Aurora muttered under her breath as they arrived back in the normal Coruscant traffic.

Obi-Wan simply rolled his eyes in response while Anakin let out another laugh. It wasn't long after that when they continued following Padmé's attacker through the ecumenopolis planet. Aurora kept her eyes glued to their enemy's speeder as it flew through a tunnel. However, instead of following them inside, the Skywalker boy flew straight passed it. A wave of confusion washed over the Jinn woman as she looked over at the Padawan, only to find all of his attention focused on what was in front of him.

"Where are you going? He went that way," Obi-Wan said while looking back at the tunnel Padmé's attacker disappeared into.

"Master, if we keep this chase going any longer, that creep is gonna end up deep-fried, and, personally, I'd very much like to find out who he is and who he's working for," Anakin responded, earning an annoyed look from his Master while Aurora continued to look for the speeder they were after, "this is a shortcut...I think."

Now it was the Jinn woman's turn to send Anakin an annoyed look, not liking how he was taking risks when Padmé's attacker was still out there. But instead of voicing how she truly felt, Aurora chose to keep her mouth shut, knowing that there was no time to argue. A million thoughts swam through the female Padawan's head as the Master and his Apprentice continued to bicker about the latter's choices. And it wasn't long before they found themselves idly sitting in the middle of one of Coruscant's busiest sky roads.

No one said a word as they looked around at the passing speeders for any sign of the one they were after. When they all came up short, Obi-Wan let out a long sigh before opening his mouth to speak. "Well, you've lost him."

"I'm deeply sorry, Master," Anakin responded with an edge in his tone, causing Aurora to look over at him. A wave of confusion washed over her when she found him looking over the edge of their speeder at something below them.

"That was some shortcut, Anakin. He went completely the other way," the Kenobi man continued, completely unaware of his Padawan's attention being somewhere else, "once again you've proved-"

"If you'll excuse me," the Skywalker boy interrupted his Master as he stood up and jumped out of the speeder.

Aurora's eyes instantly widened after watching him fall before Obi-Wan managed to climb over her into the driver's seat. The Kenobi man looked over the edge and watched his Padawan with an irritated look in his eyes. It wasn't long after that when he let out a long sigh and muttered under his breath. "I hate it when he does that."

The Jinn woman tore her eyes away from the speeder in front of them to stare at the Jedi Master. She blinked at him a few times as his words bounced around in her head before opening her mouth to speak. "He's jumped out of a speeder into moving traffic before?"

"I wish I could say 'no' to your question," Obi-Wan responded before holding his hand up in the air to catch Anakin's lightsaber. Shock coursed through Aurora's veins as she watched him casually place it on the seat between them while keeping his eyes glued to their enemy's speeder. It only took a moment for the Kenobi man to realize the woman next to him was still staring at him, causing a small smile to form on his face. "Anakin has lost his lightsaber many times before as well. This is nothing new."

"I'm starting to regret coming with you two," Aurora muttered under her breath as she turned her attention back to the speeder in front of them.

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