Prologue

Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, there lived a young man named Dake Nesob. Dake is about eighteen years of age and is the bodyguard of a young Queen named Amidala.  Amidala is the queen of a planet called Naboo. She is about twenty years old and wise beyond her years. Dake Nesob came to the service of Queen Amidala immediately after a young Sith Lord tried to abduct her some six years ago. In this six-year period, Dake and Amidala had grown very close and had professed a fondness for one another.

Our Story now takes us to the gardens of Theed Palace, where Dake and Amidala are walking hand in hand on their daily walk. Little do they know that fate itself is about to catch up with them and change both their fates and the fate of the universe forever........

Chapter One

Amidala squeezed Dake's hand tightly as they walked down the many colourful rows of the palace's fragrant gardens. They had hardly spoken a word to each other during their walk. Mostly, they were enjoying each other’s company. It had been a long time since things were quiet. Dake and Amidala's walks were the only really peaceful part of the day. The rest of the day would be filled with political decisions and diplomatic discussions, but this was their time together, where they could just get away from it all and just talk.

   "Amidala, have you ever given any thought to the future?” Dake asked.

   "Why yes Dake, I think about it every day” Amidala said”, My people depend on me to do so."

   "No”, Dake replied, "I mean about us. Do you ever think about the future of us?"

They both stopped their walk and look into each other’s eyes.

   "Dake, I think about us all the time, but it does no good to entertain those thoughts while I am negotiating and deciding the fates of all my people”, Amidala said with a little sorrow in her voice.

Dake took Amidala's hands in his own.

   "Amidala, do you really think your people go about worrying about themselves as much as you do them?” Dake continued in a pleading tone, “They have their lives, why can't you have yours?"

Amidala tore her hands from Dake’s grip.

She started in an angry tone.

   “I have a life, my life is that of my people, they chose me as their queen so they would not have to worry about their lives!"  She continued, “I owe it to them not to let them worry, it is the life I accepted, it is the life I must live!"

Dake turned his head away in defeat. He knew that the leadership of her people was a sensitive subject with her. This was an argument Dake could not win, and an argument he had lost many a time before. Dake regained his composure and turned back to Amidala. Dake thought it best to change the subject.

   "Amidala, this evening you will be escorted by my friend, Belca, while I am away”, Dake said in a cooler tone.

The argument was still fresh in Amidala's mind but she decided to let it go seeing that Dake was ready to drop the subject.

Amidala replied,

   “Where will you be going?"

   "I will be at a meeting with a young man by the name of Anakin Skywalker”, Dake said indifferently.

Dake saw it in her dark brown eyes the moment he said the boy’s name. A spark, just a shimmer of something but he could tell there was something about this name that had brought up long hidden emotions in Amidala. Dake was about to inquire about this strange look when they were suddenly approached by Belca. Belca snapped to attention. Even though Belca and Dake were close friends he was in the presence of the Queen and after all Dake was his superior officer.

   "At ease Belca" Dake said”, Do you have a message for me?"

   "Yes, Captain Nesob. One Anakin Skywalker is awaiting your presence in the State Room”, Belca answered.

   " Very well then. Belca you will be accompanying Queen Amidala for the rest of the evening”, Dake continued, “After the meeting I am taking the rest of the evening off."

Dake kneeled and took Amidala's hand and gently pressed his lips to it.

   "Your Highness”, Dake said and with this he turned and made his way back into the palace.

Amidala still bore the look on her face as she did when Dake had first said that name.

   "Belca, you are dismissed”, Amidala said softly as she stared down at the ground.

Belca started,

   “But your Highness, I am ordered to stay with you, I understand..."

Amidala interrupted,

   "Belca, I said you were dismissed!"

   "Yes, your highness" Belca said as he turned and marched back into the palace.

Amidala sat down on a small stone bench near a statue of one of Naboo's fallen heroes. She gently reached into her belt and pulled out a small necklace. It was a small cord with a small wooden block threaded to it. The wooden block bore a strange symbol that was said to bring the bearer luck in some far off system. Amidala gripped it tightly as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Chapter Two

Dake walked down the long decorative halls of Theed Palace in relative silence. Dake felt the air of the palace contained a hint of...excitement? Danger? Exactly what was felt was unclear to Dake, yet he knew that something wasn't as it should be.

Dake arrived at the two large double doors that served as the entrance to the State Room. The two Nubian guards that were standing sentry at the doors gave Dake a quick salute and immediately swung open the two doors to allow him passage.

Dake stepped into the large, lavishly decorated State Room. Its corridors were adorned with huge towering windows and marble statues of past rulers of the planet Naboo. The polished stone floor gleamed in the sunlight as Dake walked to the end of the corridor to introduce himself to the figure seated at the end of the massive dining table.

As Dake stepped closer to his visitor, He could see that he was only a boy. He looked to only to be about fifteen years of age. Upon closer inspection, Dake caught a glimpse of a single braid hanging from the boy's close-cropped head. Looking at the dark brown robe, Dake came to the conclusion that this wasn't just any boy, but a Jedi Padawan.

The boy stood as Dake approached him.

   "Greetings Captain Nesob, thank you for granting me an audience on such short notice", the boy said crisply, "I hope I haven't caused you any inconvenience." The boy then extended his hand in a gesture of friendship.

   "No, no. You have caused no inconvenience, and please call me Dake", Dake then took the boy’s hand and gave a firm shake, but not before he met the boy’s cold, blue eyes. They looked to contain so much strife. The boy’s presence made Dake feel uneasy. He had never known a Jedi to have that affect upon him, but there was definitely something about this boy.

   "And your name is Anakin Skywalker, I presume?” Dake asked.

   "Yes sir, I am sorry that I did not properly introduce myself, but I have come with orders of the utmost importance directly from Chancellor Palpatine himself", Anakin said urgently.

   "What do these orders pertain to?” Dake asked.

Anakin replied solemnly.

   “Your dismissal Captain Nesob, your dismissal........"

Dake walked to his quarters in shocked silence. His dismissal had come as a complete surprise. Something about this did not seem right. Even Chancellor Palpatine's reason for dismissal seemed unprofessional and irrational. After all, his relationship with the Queen was private and should not be appropriate grounds for dismissal. His relationship with her never interfered with her personal safety, if anything his caring for her made is devotion to her that much stronger. No, there was definitely something wrong here, something very, very wrong.

Dake pressed the control panel, which opened the door to his room. Dake entered and took a moment to allow for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. He then seated himself at the foot of his small bunk as he bowed his head in weariness and disappointment. Next he reached underneath his bunk and slid out a small footlocker. The footlocker was old and dusty with age but in it contained everything that made Dake Nesob. Dake took his hand and swiped the dust from the lid of the box. He then carefully opened the antique box and took out an old musty smelling robe. He pulled up the robe and buried his face into deep into the folds of the dark brown fabric. The feel of the material sprung up old memories of Dake's early childhood, which he preferred to leave buried. As Dake shifted the robe in his hands he felt something hard that then slid to the floor with a loud clang. Unconsciously Dake reached to the floor and grasped the metallic cylinder. He brought it closer to his face so that he could give a more thorough inspection of this object. It was mostly a black handle shaft that was interrupted by a silver button. Dake thumbed the silver button with his right hand and then watched the green luminescent blade hiss to life. The blade gave an eerie glow to the dark interior of the room. The blade hummed as Dake curiously moved the blade through the air.

   "What now Father...What now?" Dake said softly as he switched off the lightsabre leaving the room in total darkness.

Chapter Three

The cool night breeze flowed through Amidala's long brown hair as she stared aimlessly from her balcony. The day had been particularly long and trying. She hated Dake leaving her company today, especially when they were in the midst of such a sensitive subject. Her relationship with Dake was very meaningful to her, yet deep down she knew that it was destined to fail. At the moment, Amidala was trying to conceive why Dake had not responded to her messages but there was something else that had Queen Amidala deeply troubled, the reappearance of Anakin. At the mere mention of his name strange feelings emerged inside her. She could not help but remember the emotions they had shared six years ago during the Trade Federations blockade of Naboo. They seemed so distant yet so close, as if they were already joined together by the Force. Amidala's thoughts were shattered as she heard a loud knocking coming form her chamber door. She briskly jogged over to the door, with her purple robe fluttering with her movement. She quickly opened the door to find the handmaiden, Tikae, with a worried expression upon her face.

   "Tikae, what news do you bring me at this hour?” Amidala said urgently.

Tikae started.

   “Your Highness, I am dreadfully sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I'm afraid I have bad news."

   "Please come in, come in”, Amidala said quickly as she ushered Tikae in and closed the door behind them.

Tikae turned to look at the Queen.

   “It’s about Dake, your Highness."

Amidala snaps, “What about Dake? By all means Tikae you must explain!"

   "My Queen, I'm afraid that Dake has disappeared”, Tikae said worriedly.

   "Disappeared!” the Queen yelped in horror.

   "Yes, after he repeatedly declined your messages, I began to think him to be ill", Tikae paused the continued “So I obtained the code sequence to his chamber door, and then went to investigate with a small accompaniment of guards”, Tikae took a breath, “When we entered his room we found an open crate, a few dark robes littered about he room randomly, but he was not present."

   "But is it not possible that he is about taking care of a security matter or or..." Amidala said not half believing herself.

   "Belca has been investigating and Dake has not been seen since his meeting with Anakin Skywalker earlier this evening" said Tikae.

Amidala replied reluctantly.

    “We will give Dake until the morning if we have not heard from him by then...." Amidala gave a pause as if to regain her since of power and balance, and then began again in a more regal tone, “I wish to meet with Anakin tomorrow morning."

   "Yes, your highness, I will alert Skywalker of your wish to see him”, Tikae said.

   "Thank you then Tikae you are dismissed", Amidala said distantly.

Sympathetically Tikae said "My Queen, do not worry everything will work out for the best." She backed out of the chamber, closing the door behind her leaving, Amidala in total silence.

Amidala slowly walked back to the balcony, placing her young hands on the stone railing as she listened to the gentle roar of the waterfalls below her. A soft gentle gust of wind rustled across the balcony causing her robe to flap gently around her figure. Amidala softly whispered to herself as she looked into the soft yellow moonlight.

   "Ah, for the best of my kingdom......or for the best of me....?"

Chapter Four

Dake's figure created a dark silhouette as he waded across Naboo's moon bathed plains. There was a lot going through his mind and he needed a place to be alone, and just piece it all together. He then stopped as he slowly lay down in the heavy dew laden grass against the gentle incline of a hill. Dake starred up at the never-ending skyline as the moon shown upon his face, making his blue eyes gleam a glossy white. A breeze swept across the plains causing the grass to look like a vast ocean of blue Grey waves. It felt as if his whole world was falling apart. His charge for dismissal was really taking its toll on Dake's already burdened mind. With this new shame brought upon him, he could not help but reflect upon his failure as a child. In reality, what he had or rather what he could not do was totally uncontrollable. Dake had always thought himself as a disappointment to his father, no matter how much his father told him of the pride he felt for him. Dake could not help but wish he could not have been so privileged as to have the gift of his father. Dake tried for years, he searched the inner regions of himself, yet it seemed Dake Nesob was destined to be separated from the powers of the Force. If only he had the gift maybe he could have prevented his greatest failure. One that he would continue to relive for the rest of his life.

Sadly, the thing that hurt him the most was he felt betrayed. He knew now what he saw in Amidala's eyes when he spoke of Anakin Skywalker. He had seen an entanglement of fear and love. The thought of this angered him, yet he knew that he could never be what Amidala needed, he would always be a servant, a man behind the scenes, or he would have been if not for this recent incident. But even his dismissal could not change what he felt for her, he loved her and he could not stop that. Even if he was reduced to a mere Kaadu keeper living in the most substandard conditions his love for her would keep him strong. But Dake knew that after the dishonour that had befallen him he could not stay here, not in Theed, not in the swamps, not on Naboo. He decided he must leave Naboo immediately. But tomorrow Dake was to be publicly shamed, he was to be stripped of all titles and slapped in front of the entire city of Theed, including Amidala.

Something was funny about the dismissal, Dake thought. For Anakin had failed to deliver and formal decree of his discharge. With all the pomp and formalities of the Republic, he should by all means received discharge papers signed by the Chancellor. Then it hit him; Dake's heart sank at the bitter realization of this affair. Anakin's reason for coming here had been a hoax! Anakin just wanted Dake out of the way, Anakin had plans of harming the Queen! Dake jumped up from his resting position with the shock of this revelation. Dake's face turned a ghastly pale.

   "I can not leave her, not now" he said as he ran violently back toward the palace.

Chapter Five

Anakin was standing in the midst of the shadowy garden when he saw Dake run into the palace. Somehow Anakin sensed it would come to this. Dake was far too intelligent and dedicated to let Amidala go so easily. Yet Anakin had full intentions of doing anything he deemed necessary to keep Amidala for himself, he would have her he knew it to be the will of the Force.

Dake panting and out of breathe slid to a halt at the entrance of the palace's gardens. By way of the moonlight, Dake could make out Anakin's young figure standing amongst the rows of foliage. At that moment Dake felt a strange sensation. He felt alone, he also felt though the future unknown to him, that he was meant to be here, at this very place and moment. His whole life had been guided to live this moment, the Force had willed him here. Dake's feelings told him that destiny was resolving around this moment in time, that Anakin and himself would now decide the fate of the universe.

Dake slowly made his way through the rows of flowers and bushes until he stood within three feet of Anakin's stare.

   "I knew you would come for me, Dake", Anakin said blankly.

Dake answered sternly.

   “How could you plan harm upon the very queen you helped save?”

A grin spread across Anakin's face, “Harm her" he said with a laugh, “Dake I would not dream of hurting that girl."

Dake starred at Anakin somewhat confused.

The smile receded from Anakin's face.

   “You have something in your possession that was once mine" he paused, “I have come to reclaim it."

 Dake caught the hidden meaning in Anakin's words. Anakin was not here to harm Amidala, he was here to take his place. Not as Amidala's bodyguard and head of security, but as her suitor. Dake started with a tone of courage in his young voice.

   “Anakin, I will not allow you to do that", Dake's voice began to drift, “I will never let her go."

A look of surprise came over Anakin's face at the boldness of Dake's words. Anakin felt something welling up inside him, the very something the council had warned him of and Obi-Wan taught to him to control. But now he had lost control of this inner power.

   "You should have walked away when I gave you the chance, Dake,” and with those words Anakin removed the weapon from his belt and brought the luminescent blue blade to life.

Dake's eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen. He knew there was only one solution to this situation. Dake reached inside his well-worn brown vest and pulled out a weapon of his own. With that, Dake activated his own lightsabre as the green blade hissed into existence.

Anakin was shocked at this new surprise Dake had presented before him. Again, Anakin was impressed with his boldness, but now the wheels were in motion it was time to discover the outcome of these events.

Anakin lunged toward Dake swinging the sabre at chest level. Dake jumped back, barely dodging Anakin’s blow. Dake swung his sabre clumsily at Anakin's legs only to be blocked by his luminous blade. Dake jumped back to gain his composure, as Anakin lunged forward again. The two blades collided with a crackle as Anakin forced Dake back with each blow. Dake seeing himself slowly being backed into a corner, threw launched himself into the air, landing directly behind Anakin. Anakin could not react quick enough as Dake instinctively raised his hand and willed Anakin away from him. Anakin went hurtling through the air to be stopped by the stonewall behind. Anakin fell to the ground as Dake looked at his hand in disbelief, how could it be? It had finally happened he had received his fathers gift, he could control the Force. Anakin ran back toward Dake with a new fury in his eyes. Dake threw up his blade to block Anakin's attack from severing his shoulder.

It was amazing it was if Dake could anticipate Anakin's moves before they happened. Dake was doing what essentially took Jedi's years to learn let alone master. There was only one explanation for this. It was not actually Dake controlling the Force, it was his father.

Dake fought back at Anakin with a new strength that Anakin did not expect. It seemed the tides had changed as Dake forced Anakin back across the garden with the shear power in his blows. Anakin stumbled backwards with each strike he received from Dake. Anakin ducked placing his lightsabre above his head to deflect the incoming blows of Dake's sabre. Then Anakin's mind exploded in a red haze of pure adrenaline.  Anakin threw himself on top of Dake throwing both of them to the ground. Dake lay on the moist ground as he tried with all his might to keep Anakin’s sabre blade from his face. Beads of sweat rolled down Dake's cheeks as he used his sabre to push Anakin off of him. Dake jumped to his feet only to find his attacker had anticipated this move. Dake brought his head up only to meet the heel of Anakin's boot. Saliva and blood flew from Dake's mouth as he hit the ground once again. Anakin reached out with the Force and threw Dake's lightsabre from his hand. Anakin's tall figure straddled Dake's fatigued body.

   "It looks as I have won Captain Nesob", Anakin said tauntingly.

Dake looked up at his foe, Naboo's sun was beginning to break in early morning sky.

   "In the end Skywalker, you will only win by losing", Dake said weakly.

Anakin's head was set ablaze by these words. A blinding power fuelled by anger and hatred washed over him. Anakin held the indigo blade close to his Dake's chest. With one powerful thrust Anakin shoved the blade deep into Dake's chest.

Dake felt a cool burning sensation as the blade burned through his flesh. A grimace of pain came upon him as the sweat trickled from his brow. But then a feeling of openness and peace flooded his mind. In Dake's final moments, his father’s gift had found him. He could see and feel all things in the universe because he was essentially one with it. He saw friends, his past, the future, and his father, but in these last seconds as he felt himself slip into the Force his thoughts dwelled on the one person that had never failed him. Dake's final thoughts were of Amidala, and how he failed her too.

Chapter Six

Amidala wandered aimlessly about her chambers in the early morning sunlight. She could not help but worry about Dake. It was not like him to disappear without warning. She was beginning to call Tikae in to ask if she had heard any information when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Dake standing in the corner, but not as she remembered him. He shimmered with a glowing blue translucence. Amidala was astounded by the apparition. She wanted to run and embrace him but she restrained herself, knowing that this was only the inner core of Dake's being. Dake's figure gracefully walked to a small table in front of Amidala. He laid his hand over an object as he spoke

   "May the Force be strong with you, Amidala." His words rung through Amidala's ears, burning there way into her memory. This followed by silence as Amidala looked longingly into his transparent blue eyes. For these few moments as their eyes locked, a thousand words and emotions were shared between them. Dake smiled as his apparition slowly began to fade from view. Amidala started, “Dake I." but the blue spirit had already vanished.

Amidala's voice quivered as she finished, “I love you". Amidala walked over to where Dake's figure had stood hoping to possibly still feel his presence. She discovered that the object he had covered with his hand was the same chaporsnate Anakin had given her six years ago. Dake was trying to tell her something, something she would not understand for years to come. Tears began to well up in her dark brown eyes as she picked up the object. At that moment Tikae entered Amidala's chambers.

   "Your Highness, Anakin Skywalker is awaiting your company as you requested", Tikae said.

   "Yes, very well", Amidala said trying to mask her emotions.

Tikae turned and walked out of the room. Amidala carefully tied the charm around her slender neck as she walked toward the door. Before closing the door she looked back, once more with the faint hope that Dake would be standing by her balcony with open arms, but saw nothing.