The Nurse and the Assassin.

Anakin had to search about four years back in his memory. Since he had started his training far later than most Jedi, he had never had a reason to set foot in the temple’s nursery, and if it hadn’t been for his Master’s weakness, he never would have.

It was a particularly calm day in the capital. Anakin and Obi-Wan had trained all morning. First meditation, then a sparring match and it was time for the noon meal.

“You are free to do as you please, Anakin,” Obi-wan had said.

It was unusual, considering the man had been on him like flies on a bantha since Qui-gon’s death. It had thrown Anakin off. He wasn’t really sure what to do with himself in the middle of the day. It wasn’t like any of the more tempting establishments were open at that time, which is exactly why Obi-wan had given him a carte blanche with his time.

“Where will you be going, Master?”

Anakin had sensed Obi-Wan’s reluctance to tell him. He had sensed a great deal more too.

“I’m meeting a friend...in the temple’s nursery...”

His Master was so predictable; form dictated his behavior. It would take only seconds for him to invite Anakin to what was intended to be a private engagement.

“Would you like to join me?”

There it was.

“Yes Master. If you will permit me. I have never been to the nursery before and would like to see it.”

Anakin had smiled smugly at his brazen interference with his Master’s plans.

“Very well then.”

Obi-Wan had led Anakin through a long corridor on the second level at the end of which was a set of double doors. There was a console with a colorful telescreen at the nursery’s entrance. Obi-wan turned to it and asked for the nursery’s status.

“The infants are eating,” a smooth, mechanical voice chimed, “You may proceed.”
Anakin noted there were options for sleeping, playing and learning as well. Obi-Wan removed his boots and placed them on a rack by the door. He motioned for his padawan to do the same.

They pushed through the double doors, entering what was quite possibly the strangest room in the temple. The temperature was set several degrees higher than the rest of the building. The floor was covered in a colorful, rubber-like material that felt odd beneath Anakin’s feet. The walls were adorned with simple murals, depicting plants and animals from various worlds and a soft, soothing music played from somewhere overhead.

Anakin couldn’t help but feel some trepidation at this most alien environment. He hadn’t exactly had a normal childhood and now, as a Jedi, was not privy to this sort of thing either. His Master must have picked up on his feelings.

“They don’t bite you know. Actually, they might but most of them don’t have teeth yet.”

Obi-Wan’s humor was interrupted by a female voice.

“Who is there?”

It drew Anakin’s attention to the back of the room where a young woman was seated in a rocking chair, beside her there were several baby baskets; some with little feet sticking up.

“It’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and my padawan.”

When they approached her it became clear why she had asked who had entered even though Anakin and Obi-Wan were standing within view. Where there normally would have been color in her slanted eyes, there were cataracts instead, like two shiny white opals. Anakin stared at them with a faint sense of pity.

What a waste for such a nice young woman to be blind.

His careless thought earned Anakin a stern look from his Master.

“Anakin, this is Siti Ayal, caretaker of the order’s infants. Siti, this is Anakin Skywalker, my padawan.”

The woman nodded politely, then motioned down to her chest.

“Help me out, Obi-Wan,” she said with a smile.

Only then did Anakin take his gaze off Siti’s dead eyes, noticing the infant that was latched at her naked breast. His Master took the child and she swiftly tucked herself away in the green and white robe.

“May I?” she asked, standing up. Her hands held out, like she wanted to touch Anakin’s face.

“Sure.”

Anakin understood why Obi-wan had wanted to come to the nursery. Not only was this probably the closest he’d been to a woman’s breast since he himself was weaned, but she touched you as well.

There’s hope for my stiff old Master yet. Anakin made sure this thought was private and smirked.

Siti first felt the outline of Anakin’s face with her palms, then lightly let her fingertips slide over his features; his brow, cheekbones, nose and mouth. She almost had to stand on tip toes because of her short stature. Had it been any other woman touching him so personally, Anakin would surely have found it arousing, but this was a caretaker of infant Jedi and he felt the appropriate respect for her position.

“Thank you. Please sit.”

Siti had taken the small child back from Obi-Wan’s careful embrace and placed it to sleep in one of the baskets, then left them briefly to get refreshments.

“If I may ask, Siti, are you a Jedi? I sense the Force with you.”

“No, I’m not a Jedi. I was once a Jedi hopeful, but the Council decided my future lay here, as a caretaker. My knowledge of the Force is limited only to that which I need to care for the children.”

Limited my lightsaber! Anakin thought as he snapped out of the memory and headed to the temple’s nursery with the two troopers. Apparently the nurse had known almost enough to keep the infants hidden from him.

He commanded his troopers to wait a short distance before the double doors and walked up to the telescreen.

"The nursery is empty. Call again later," it chimed this time.

Anakin swiftly entered several codes onto the small console.

"Access denied. You may not proceed."

"Sir we could blast that door for you," one of the clones offered.

Anakin spun around.

"No, that won't be necesary. Stand back until you are called upon."

He turned back to the door and and leaned against it, reaching inside with his mind, he projected the calm, compassionate signature of a Jedi. Sure enough, the doors swung open.

So predictable.