Secrets of the Force: A Star Wars Story

chapter 04: when the masks come off

"behind every mask, there is a face,
and behind that, a story."

Home.

The soft lapping of water against the shores of the Lake House tugged at Kara's heart as she sat on the boat, looking out over the serene expanse of Naboo's pristine lake. It was a place that had always felt like home, a sanctuary filled with memories of laughter and love. Yet, today, an unsettling weight settled in her chest. The vibrant greens of the landscape seemed muted, overshadowed by the turmoil swirling within her.

Kara had returned to Naboo with a sense of duty, but it was intertwined with a deep-seated anxiety about what she might find here. It was true; she preferred to be here, keeping an eye on Padmé. If she trusted anyone to get to the bottom of this plot, it would be Obi-Wan. Still, it didn't seem right to be so far away from where things were actually happening, leaving the Jedi Knight to figure out this mystery.

She could have been doing more.

As she gazed out at the lake, memories washed over her, as vivid as the sunlight glinting off the water. She remembered the days spent with Padmé, running through the fields, their laughter echoing against the hills. But those days felt distant now, overshadowed by the growing darkness in the galaxy.

Her thoughts then drifted to Anakin. Why did he have to be the one to accompany us? I would've been happy if he had traded places with Obi-Wan. She could still recall the first time she had seen Anakin—the boy with the confident smile and the bright blue eyes–eyes that seemed glued to her sister during the entire trip.

And it was a long trip.

The Jedi Council had instructed them to travel as refugees, so the journey was not as straightforward as she would have liked.

Even worse, Padmé seemed to be growing more relaxed in Anakin's presence. Kara shook her head. She had always admired Padmé's strength and conviction, but there was a part of her that wished to protect her sister from the inevitable pain that often came with such deep attachments. Were Anakin's attempts at flirtation really working on her sister?

Well, she got her answer when she walked onto the balcony and saw them kissing.

Time slowed, and the world around her faded away. Anakin's lips brushed against Padmé's, and Kara's stomach turned unexpectedly. The sight ignited a wildfire of conflicting emotions within her—surprise, sadness, even a twinge of jealousy she hadn't anticipated. She couldn't explain her reaction; it felt like a betrayal, yet she knew deep down that her sister deserved happiness. She just didn't expect her to find it with a Jedi. Besides, the bond forming between them was dangerous, a web woven from secrets and unspoken risks.

The kiss ended quickly, with Padmé being the first to pull away. Their expressions shifted from passion to awkwardness, and Kara felt her heart clench. As they stood there, momentarily frozen, Kara made the decision to leave them to their own devices.

To distract herself, she went to fix her room. Granted, she didn't bring much with her save for a few sets of clothes and more weapons. But hey, when you lived your life moving from one place to the next, having too much baggage slowed you down.

It was an hour or so later, she was polishing a set of daggers when her hand paused on one of the blades.

"Have you come to interrogate me some more, Jedi?"

"I have a name, you know," Anakin pointed out, his voice laced with a frown she could hear even without looking up. "And how did you know I was here?"

Kara smirked, still focused on the blade, the reflection of her masked face dancing across its polished surface. "You breathe too loud," she pointed out, raising an eyebrow.