His Padawan

Expectations Exceeded

Kiara dove for the detonater and tossed it back out of the window before it exploded.

The door to the senator's chamber was blown apart and five battle droids marched into the room. They leveled their blasters at Kiara.

"Surrender, Jedi", the lead droid said.

Kiara barred her teeth in a feral smile. One flip and she had dismembered the first droid. The others fired, but her lightsaber sent the blasts back at them and away from the hidden senator. Only a few seconds later, the droids were in parts on the floor.

The Padawan helped Padme out from under the bed and the two women stood surveying the damage.

This was the scene that Anakin and Obi-Wan found. Padme assured them that she was unharmed.

"Well done" Obi-Wan nodded to Kiara. Anakin gently patted her shoulder in approval. For once she did not shy away from the physical contact.

Kiara put her lightsaber back on her belt and watched the two men pick through the droid rubble for any clues as to who they were sent by.

Suddenly, she felt danger. Another detonater shot through the broken window. Kiara's lightsaber sheared through it before it even hit the ground. The burned halves fell smoking to the floor as Anakin and Obi-Wan drew their lightsabers.

Padme drew in a long, shuddering breath and sat down quickly on the bed. Kiara glanced at her kindly.

Anakin's thoughts were racing. His Padawan might be able to survive the danger of the war after all.

Obi-Wan and Anakin tried to reason who could be behind the attack on the senator, but they could think of no logical suspects. Of course, as senator, Padme had many enemies, but none with motive enough to kill her now. The senator was not doing anything to specifically anger anyone.

They reported to the Jedi Council and returned to their rooms to cath a few hours of sleep.

After tossing and turning, Kiara quietly left her room at the Temple and went to meditate. Shedding her robe, she let the Force flow through her as she practiced her lightsaber forms. She spun and wove through imaginary foes with a lethal grace.

Her green lightsaber cast an eery glow over the dimly lit room. She was focused; she was completely one with the Force.

Through the Force, she felt a prescence behind her and spun around. Her green lightsaber met a blue one with a sharp crackle.

Anakin looked down at her calm face and felt a flash of irritation. Of course, she was good, but did his Padawan really think that she could best him?

He knew it had not been kind to sneak up on her, but he had been curious when he heard her leave her room.

Good man that he was, Anakin suddenly realized how much she had to prove. As her Master, he should be doing everything he could to help her.

And so, Anakin attacked.

She met his lunge with a quick parry, deflecting his lightsaber without wasting her energy by stopping it altogether.

Instead, she met his strength with speed and grace, and danced out of the way. Anakin advanced, observing her technique and finding no fault.

Small as she was, Kiara managed to keep up with Anakin, even launching a few counterattacks of her own. But in the end, she was exhausted.

Anakin was barely out of breath when he disarmed her with a quick flick of his blue lightsaber.

Kiara's lightsaber flew across the room. Without waiting for him to speak, she executed a perfect backflip and came up in a ready stance, lightsaber safely back in her hand.

"Good, never give up in a fight, even if you're beaten", Anakin said approvingly. She nodded slightly, still waiting for another devastating attack from him.

"I think that's enough for now, don't you?" He said gently. Kiara deactivated her lightsaber and sighed in relief. She stretched her aching muscles and followed Anakin out of the room.