Ep V: Chapter 8

Laki and the Separatists need each other. Darth Maul is dead. Separatist leadership benefits from the help of a Sith Lord, and Laki needs the Separatists to keep the Jedi busy. What’s more, Laki dislikes loss of life. Killing a pair of influential heroes is less costly in that department than fighting an army. It’s the sort of target that Laki would be drawn to. Enthea sees the Council’s reasoning.

Even if she doesn’t like it very much.

“There has to be somewhere that I’m needed,” she begins, but Master Windu speaks over her.

“The Senate offered Waldas protection. She turned it down. Now she’s gone to her new settlement on Chandar’s Folly for her wedding. She’s an easy target out there. We’re hoping that if a Jedi Knight is seen to be openly protecting her, that will deter the Separatists from making a move.”

“It’s not even a trap for Master Laki?” Enthea asks, a little desperately.

“No. It will be a success if nothing happens at all.”

It takes all of Enthea’s discipline to keep from letting her dismay show. They want her to babysit a rich hero on a planet that most sentient beings haven’t heard of.

“For how long?” she asks stiffly.

“A productive question, that is not,” Master Yoda replies.

A while, then. Enthea knows better than to argue. She bows.

“I’ll leave at once.”

FTL

Enthea won’t shed any tears about not even getting to spend a single night in her room at the Temple. She stops to meditate briefly at Ryoke’s memorial in the vast, silent hall of remembrance. From there she packs just enough to travel and arranges transport. A mission like this means flying commercial.

Which isn’t the worst thing. Neither is getting away from Coruscant. If she can just get out of the temple without running into Anakin.

She emerges from her room with her bag, relieved to find the corridor clear. She heads to the elevator, where she cringes inwardly as she waits for the doors to open.

It’s empty except for a Mirialan Padawan. Relieved, Enthea gets in and rides down.

Anakin is waiting for her at the entrance to the shuttle bay. Enthea scowls as she approaches.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“How’d you know I was going anywhere?”

“I just knew.”

“I wish you knew how important it was to study.”

“I saw you study those dancers on Jakku,” he replies.

Enthea bristles. “One day, you’ll study dancers too, Anakin.”

“Master Obi-Wan says that it’s not the Jedi way.”

“Are the Jedi perfect, Anakin?”

He hesitates, thrown by the question. “Probably not,” he says, gazing up at her seriously.

“Now you’re getting it.” Enthea reaches out and messes up his hair, then walks past him into the bay. “Go study the Jedi way,” she calls over her shoulder.