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Chapter 7

Utapau. Finally. Ever since she'd heard who it was they were going to rescue, Acacia had wanted to spring out of her seat and sprint across the whole planet if she had to - anything to find Kadalia. But, at the time, they'd been in hyperspace in the middle of the Galaxy, so that hadn't exactly been an option.

But now, they were here - finally - and nothing would stop her. She wouldn't rest until she made sure her best friend was safe. Acacia fingered the note she always kept in the pocket of her robes, thinking of the last time she'd seen Kadalia. Kady was more than a best friend to her; she was like the sister she'd never had.

"Be careful, Acacia," Obi-Wan said, as they grabbed their lightsabers and headed for the hatch doors. "I know you're excited, but you need to keep your head."

Acacia nodded, then closed her eyes and concentrated on calming herself. Obi-Wan was right. The only way to find her best friend was to keep calm and use her brain.

When she opened her eyes, Obi-Wan smiled at her. "Good. Now what was strange about our entrance to the planet?"

Typical Obi-Wan. Always taking time out to give her a lesson. It took only half a second for her to come up with the answer. "Lack of security," she replied.

Her Master nodded. "Right. We snuck onto this planet and no one stopped us, not even to ask about our business. Which means?"

"Something else is occupying their attention."

"Yes," he said, nodding again. "And that something else may help us or it may hurt us. Either way, we need to be on the lookout."

"I won't let you down, Master."

Obi-Wan gave her a soft smile as they stepped off the ramp leading out of the ship. "I'm not worried about that, Acacia. After all, you never have."

Acacia couldn't help the wide grin that spread across her face. She felt warmed from the inside out.

Which was convenient because the feeling didn't last long. As she turned away from the ship, she stopped midstep, shocked. She'd known they were landing in a rough part of Utapau, that Utapau had had some difficulties lately, but she'd never thought it would be this bad. All around her, there were beings laying in the street, dead and dying. She heard the groans of those wounded, the crying of starving babies and small children. She could practically feel their grit, dirt and dust settling over her own skin in the cool, rotting air. The stench of decaying bodies lay over the smog, and she could almost taste it all on her tongue.

Turning to her Master, her eyes spoke a desperate question. What happened here?

Obi-Wan sighed and shrugged, as if to say, I don't know. "Come on," he said out loud. "We need to find Master Allie and her padawan."

"Padme, why can't you at least wait till the twins are born? Then maybe you'll be able to see that this isn't a good idea!"

"I can't, Anakin! For the last time, no!" Padme turned away from her husband, putting an exhausted hand to her forehead. It felt like the millionth time they were going over the same argument: her return to the Senate. But the yelling at each other? That was a first.

Padme heard Anakin leave, slamming her office door behind him, and she struggled to keep herself from crying. She was expecting a comm from Bail soon, and it wouldn't do for her eyes to be red and puffy, and her face all blotchy when he finally came through.

She hated arguing with Anakin more than anything, but why couldn't he understand? This was something she needed to do. And not just for the Galaxy, but for herself. In the same way as he got restless if he didn't have a near-death experience every other week, she felt useless if she wasn't doing something to help people. And uselessness was a feeling she simply could not abide.

A quiet beeping filled the room, and she took several deep breaths to compose herself before she went over and sat down at her desk. She pressed the button and a holographic image of her head of security, Captain Gregar Typho, came up. Typho was a close friend and one of the few people she truly trusted, though even he didn't know all the details about Anakin. He was only aware that she was sheltering him, and, as he didn't believe what the Emperor had said about the Jedi anyway, he was completely willing to keep her secret. "Communication for you, milady," he said. "On your private line."

"Senator Organa?"

"Yes. I assume he is expected?"

"He is. Please put the communication through. And Typho?"

"Yes, milady?"

"Ensure that the line is completely secure, if you please."

He nodded, and his image fizzled and died. A few seconds later, it was replaced by the image of Senator Organa. "Padme," he said with a bow of his head and a smile. "You cannot imagine how much it pleases me to see your face. For a time, I feared the rumor of your death was true."

"I apologize that I had to take my leave without alerting you first. Health reasons."

Bail nodded understandingly and then moved right into business. "I must say, I was surprised to get your comm the other day. But we would be happy to have you back in the Delegation. We've... well, it's been very difficult lately, without your hand in things."

Padme smiled graciously. "I'm sure you've all managed very well. You took my advice, I hope?"

"Yes." He nodded. "We've all been feigning obedience as best we can without outright saying we support the Emperor's every move."

Padme nodded, too. "Good. Palpatine must know nothing of the continuation of the Delegation. We can no longer rely on democratic measures such as petitions for justice to be served."

"Padme," Bail said, after a short pause, "I hope you are not suggesting another war."

Padme shook her head. "Never, Bail. Though I fear it may come to that, I hope to regain the Republic without the use of violence." She paused a moment and her and Bail shared a look. Both knew just how improbable such a situation would be. "But what we will have to use," she continued, "are clever strategy and much secrecy."

He nodded. "Of course. I'll send you a comm when we've determined when and how the Delegation will communicate again."

"Thank you, Bail. We should meet as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."

"Agreed. You will hear from me soon. Until then, Padme."

"Until then."

After the communication closed, Padme leaned her head back against her chair and smiled a little to herself. Anakin would come around, wouldn't he? And, while she waited, she was already getting back in the game, so to speak.

And that was when he reentered, just in time to shock her out of happy thoughts. She should've known her husband hadn't actually left, that he would know if Bail sent her a communication.

"So," Anakin began. His stance was casual, leaning against the wall, arms folded easily across his chest, but Padme sat up immediately when she saw him. The smoldering anger in his blue eyes was not to be ignored. "How long exactly have you and Bail been corresponding about this 'Delegation?'"

"Anakin-"

But he didn't let her finish. "You got so upset when I didn't tell you about Vader, and all the while you were keeping this a secret from me?"

"I couldn't tell you, Anakin!" she burst out. "I wasn't the only person involved. I wanted to tell you. So many times, I tried to tell you, but they didn't want any Jedi to know, and you didn't pick up the hints-"

"So it's all my fault?"

"No, honey. It's no one's fault. But I couldn't tell you. I'm so sorry."

"Can you tell me anything now?"

Padme bit her lip. Whether the Jedi technically existed or not was of no consequence. She had no right to tell anyone about the Delegation without the other members' permission.

Anakin took her hesitation in and nodded shortly. "That's what I thought," he said bitterly. And then he spun around and stomped away.

Padme looked after him, but she couldn't bring herself to call him back. Instead, she put her head in her hands and cried.

And there we have the cutest couple ever in a fight! Yes, I know I'm evil. All the same, thanks for reading and please review! :D