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〃You will pay attention to my lead。〃
Anakin could hardly believe that Obi…Wan was continuing to do this in front of Padme。 〃Why？〃 he asked； turning the question and the debate； trying desperately to regain some footing and credibility。
〃What？〃 Obi…Wan exclaimed； as taken aback as Anakin had ever seen him； and the young Padawan knew that he was pushing too far and too fast。
〃Why else do you think we were assigned to her； if not to find the killer？〃 he asked； trying to bring a measure of calm back to the situation。 〃Protection is a job for local security； not for Jedi。 It's overkill； Master； and so an investigation is implied in our mandate。〃
〃We will do as the Council has instructed；〃 Obi…Wan countered。 〃And you will learn your place； young one。〃
〃Perhaps with merely your presence about me； the mysteries surrounding this threat will be revealed；〃 offered Padme； ever the diplomat。 She smiled alternately at Anakin and at Obi…Wan； an invitation for civility； and when both leaned back； shoulders visibly relaxing； she added； 〃Now； if you will excuse me； I will retire。〃
They all bowed as Padme and Dorme exited the room； and then Obi…Wan stared hard at his young Padawan again； neither seeming overly pleased with the other。
〃Well； I know that I'm glad to have you here；〃 Captain Typho offered； moving closer to the pair。 〃I don't know what's going on here； but the Senator can't have too much security right now。 Your friends on the Jedi Council seem to think that miners have something to do with this； but I can't really agree with that。〃
〃What have you learned？〃 Anakin asked。
Obi…Wan threw him a look of warning。
〃We'll be better prepared to protect the Senator if we have some idea of what we're up against；〃 Anakin explained to his Master； logic he knew that Obi…Wan had to accept as reasonable。
〃Not much；〃 Typho admitted。 〃Senator Amidala leads the opposition to the creation of a Republic army。 She's very determined to deal with the separatists through negotiation and not force； but the attempts on her life； even though they've failed； have only strengthened the opposition to her viewpoint in the Senate。〃
〃And since the separatists would not logically wish to see a Republic army formed 。 。 。〃 Obi…Wan reasoned。
〃We're left without a clue；〃 Typho said。 〃In any such incident； the first questioning eyes turn toward Count Dooku and the separatists。〃 A frown crossed Obi…Wan's face； and Typho quickly added； 〃Or to some of those loyal to his movement； at least。 But why they'd go after Senator Amidala is anyone's guess。〃
〃And we are not here to guess； but merely to protect；〃 Obi…Wan said； in tones that showed he was finished with this particular line of discussion。 Typho bowed； hearing him clearly。 〃I'll have an officer on every floor； and I'll be at the mand center downstairs。〃
Typho left； then； and Obi…Wan began a search of the room and adjoining chambers； trying to get a feel for the place。 Anakin started to do likewise； but he stopped when he walked by Jar Jar Binks。
〃Mesa bustin wit happiness seein yousa again； Annie。〃
〃She didn't even recognize me；〃 Anakin said； staring at the door through which Padme had departed。 He shook his head despondently and turned to the Gungan。 〃I've thought about her every day since we parted； and she's forgotten me pletely。〃
〃Why yousa sayen that？〃 Jar Jar asked。
〃You saw her；〃 Anakin replied。
〃Shesa happy；〃 the Gungan assured him。 〃Happier than mesa see'en her in a longo time。 These are bad times； Annie。 Bombad times！〃
Anakin shook his head and started to repeat his distress； but he noted Obi… Wan moving toward him and wisely held his tongue。
Except that his observant Master had already discerned the conversation。 〃You're focusing on the negative again；〃 he said to Anakin。 〃Be mindful of your thoughts。 She was pleased to see us…leave it at that。 Now； let's check the security here。 We have much to do。〃
Anakin bowed。 〃Yes； Master。〃
He could say the pliant words because he had to； but the young Padawan could not dismiss that which was in his heart and in his thoughts。
Padme sat at her vanity； brushing her thick brown hair； staring into the mirror but not really seeing anything there。 Her thoughts were replaying again and again the image of Anakin； the look he had given her。 She heard his words again；
〃。。。 grown more beautiful；〃 and though Padme was undeniably that； those were not words she was used to hearing。 Since she had been a young girl； Padme had been involved in politics； quickly rising to powerful and influential positions。 Most of the men she had e into contact with had been more concerned with what she could bring to them in practical terms than with her beauty； or； for that matter； with any true personal feelings for her。 As Queen of Naboo and now as Senator； Padme was well aware that she was attractive to men in ways deeper than physical attraction； in ways deeper than any emotional bond。
Or perhaps not deeper than the latter； she told herself； for she could not deny the intensity in Anakin's eyes as he had looked at her。
But what did it mean？
She saw him again； in her thoughts。 And clearly。 Her mental eye roamed over his lean and strong frame； over his face； tight with the intensity that she had always admired； and yet with eyes sparkling with joy； with mischief； with。 。 。
With longing？
That thought stopped the Senator。 Her hands slipped down to her sides； and she sat there； staring at herself； judging her own appearance as Anakin might。
After a few long moments； Padme shook her head； telling herself that it was crazy。 Anakin was a Jedi now。 That was their dedication and their oath； and those things； above all else； were things Padme Amidala admired。
How could he even look at her in such a manner？
So it was all her imagination。
Or was it her fantasy？
Laughing at herself； Padme lifted her brush to her hair again； but she paused before she had even begun。 She was wearing a silky white nightgown； and there were； after all； security cams in her room。 Those cams had never really bothered her； since she had always looked at them clinically。
Security cams； with guards watching her every move； were a fact of her existence； and so she had learned to go about her daily routines； even the private ones； without a second thought to the intrusive eyes。
But now she realized that a certain young Jedi might be on the other end of those lenses。
Chapter Seven
Clad in gray armor that was somewhat outdated； burned from countless blaster shots； but still undeniably effective； the bounty hunter stood easily on the ledge； a hundred stories and more up from the Coruscant street。 His helmet； too； was gray； except for a blue ridge crossing his eyes and running down from brow to chin。 His perch seemed somewhat precarious； considering the wind at this height； but to one as agile and skilled as Jango； and with a penchant for getting himself into and out of difficult places； this was nothing out of the ordinary。
Right on time； a speeder pulled up near the ledge and hovered there； Jango's associate； Zam Wesell； nodded to him and climbed out； stepping lithely onto the ledge in front of a couple of bright advertisement windows。 She wore a red veil over the bottom half of her face。 This was not a statement of modesty or fashion。 Like everything else she wore； from her blaster to her armor to her other concealed and equally deadly weapons； Zam's veil was a practical implement； used to hide her Clawdite features。 Clawdites were not a trusted species； for obvious reasons。
〃You know that we failed？〃 Jango asked； getting right to the point。 〃You told me to kill those in the Naboo starship；〃 Zam said。 〃I hit the ship； but they used a decoy。 Those who were aboard are all dead。〃
Jango fixed her with a smirk； and didn't bother to call her words a dodge。
〃We'll have to try something more subtle this time。 My client is getting impatient。 There can be no more mistakes。〃 As he finished； he handed Zam a hollow； transparent tube containing a pair of whitish centipedelike creatures as long as his forearm。
〃Kouhuns；〃 he exp