Assassin (A Star Wars Fan-Fiction) Book 2

Chapter One

"Denali!" She gasped as she kneeled beside the wounded Jedi. Padme tried not to cry as she looked at the girl's injuries. Blood covered the ground where Denali had been hit by flying debris and were chunks of her skin had been ripped off by the explosion. Denali looked up at her, her vision starting to grow blurry as the painful seconds went by.

"Padme...." She was able to say. Her eyes were slowly closing as Padme grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. She could hear Captain Typho's voice, trying to convince the Senator to leave the Jedi behind. But Padme wouldn't budge. Tears were streaking down her cheeks as she told Captain Typho over and over that she would not leave her friend behind. But suddenly Padme was lifted off the ground, someone had grabbed her from behind and was dragging her towards the escape transport.

"No! Denali! Denali!" Padme screamed.

Then Denali's eyes closed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"You seem a little on edge." Master Kenobi said to his Padawan. The elevator ride to Senator Amidala's chambers seemed to be going on forever. Anakin couldn't stand it. He could feel the miniature model of 'The Heart of the Robot' Denali had created for him years before. It felt heavy in his secret pocket within his robes.

"Not at all, Master." Anakin said.

"I haven't felt you this tense since we fell into that nest of gundarks." Obi-Wan said to his apprentice.

"You fell into that nightmare, Master. And I saved you, remember?" Anakin said as he readjusted his Padawan robes for the fifth time. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smile.

"Anakin, you're sweating. Breathe." Obi-Wan told him once again.

"Master, it's been ten years since either of us have seen Denali. What if she's forgotten about me?" Anakin asked his Master.

"Anakin, what was the last thing she said to you when you boarded that ship to go back to the Temple?" Obi-Wan asked him. Anakin sighed, remembering the moment as if it was yesterday.

"She said that I would always be her best friend."

"And you, hers. Relax, everything will be fine." Obi-Wan said. But honestly, he hadn't been feeling too calm about seeing Denali again either. He still had the ring on a leather cord around his neck, hidden underneath the layers of his robes. He wondered if she still had hers as well. He could imagine her wearing it on a hidden necklace as well, or having it safely contained in a secret pocket within the layers of her new Jedi Master robes. After a few more seconds, the elevator finally came to a stop at the proper floor. The doors slid open, and the two stepped out.

"Master Kenobi, Padawan Skywalker, it is a pleasure to see you again." Padme said with a smile as she greeted the two Jedi. They bowed respectfully.

"And you as well." Anakin said.

"Master Bleway and her new apprentice will be here shortly. Denali is just getting her stitches removed." Padme said.

"Stitches? Why would she need stitches? Is she hurt?" Anakin asked quickly, a red flag going up in his mind. Obi-Wan tried not to flinch at the information, but couldn't help but worry even more as well. Padme gave them a skeptical look.

"You didn't know? Isn't that why you're here? To protect me?" She asked them.

"Yes, Senator. But we didn't receive news of Master Bleway being harmed." Anakin said, concern and nervousness layering his words thickly. Padme sighed.

"I think it would be best if you two sat down." She said as she lead them to two couches in the middle of the room. The two men quickly took their seats across from the Senator as she began to tell her story.