"I don't know how much longer I can hold off the vote, my friends. More and more star systems are joining the Separatists."
The Chancellor kept his quarters sterile and cold, and Raiko had to resist the urge to shiver – both at the man's words and at the temperature. The Masters of the council were sitting in front of her, her own Master, along with Yoda, Mace Windu, Luminara Unduli, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Kit Fisto. Master Unduli's apprentice, Barriss Offee stood beside her – both them keeping a respectful distance. It was more than a little frustrating, because she had wanted to butt in several times during the conversation. Palpatine was being frustratedly vague about the state of affairs in the Senate – and Raiko could sense almost all of the Master's growing frustration – apart from Yoda, who as always, seemed outwardly calm and thoughtful.
After the bombing on the landing dock – aimed to kill the Senator of Naboo – Padmé Amidala, the ex-queen and one of Raiko friend's, all she wanted to do was go see if the other woman was alright. Instead, she was stuck here, as the Senator mildly denied that war was coming.
"If they do break away-" Mace attempted to interject, but the Chancellor kept speaking, as if unhearing.
"I will not let this Republic – which has stood for a thousand years split in two. My negotiations will not fail." The Chancellor said, nodding righteously.
"If they do," Mace continued with equal blitheness. "You must realise there aren't enough Jedi to protect the Republic. We're keepers of the peace. Not soldiers." Raiko shifted uncomfortably. Peace-keeping had never been one of her strong points – she was in fact, a better warrior than she was negotiator. A soothing tendril of energy brushed against her awareness, making her look to her Master. He remained silent and unmoving.
The Chancellor looked at Yoda. "Master Yoda, do you really think it will come to war?"
Yoda hummed, closing his eyes. "Hmmm, the dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see, the future is." At the acknowledgement of even their most powerful Master's uncertainty, Raiko and Barriss exchanged a worried look. Raiko wasn't particularly close to the other girl, who hadn't been a Padawan for very long – and before that, had been a part of the Hare Clan. However, she seemed friendly enough, and Raiko was just happy to have another Padawan present to share her fears with.
Then, a transmission appeared on the Chancellors desk, a Rodian speaking in halting Huttese making the Chancellor smile slightly. "Good." He said, nodding slightly. "Send them in." The transmission faded out.
Raiko turned to look automatically as the doors hissed open, revealing Padmé, Jar-Jar and a host of other familiar faces from Naboo. She couldn't help but smile, bowing as Padmé approached her. "Senator." She murmured, straightening as her smile faded. Padmé looked tired. "I'm so sorry." She said.
Padmé gave a half-smile, reaching to grasp Raiko's hand and giving it a squeeze. "It's not your doing. I'm just glad to see a familiar face." Raiko bowed again as Padmé moved past her to greet the other Jedi. She and the other woman had kept in contact almost involuntarily. As an Arcturian, she and her Master often ventured to the Naboo system in order to resolve issues there, due to her knowledge and cultural connection to the planets. It meant that she saw Padmé almost regularly – much to Anakin's jealousy.
Jar-Jar paused in front of her as well – but with much less decorum, bringing her in for a tight squeeze. "Raiko! You have grown since we last met! You are getting old now!" the Gungan spoke loudly in Gungani, making Ki-Adi-Mundi look over in disapproval. She laughed, patting the Gungan on the shoulder as she stepped away.
"I wish I could grow taller, Jar-Jar. It is good to see you." She grinned at him, watching as he suddenly snapped into a poised position as her Master approached.
Plo Koon nodded to the Gungan Ambassador, before turning to Raiko. "Young one, you are dismissed for now. Perhaps you'd like to accompany the Ambassador to get her settled into her apartments." It was an offer to spend some time with her friend, and she jumped on it, as Padmé's security chief nodded in thanks.
"Of course, Master."
"Perhaps it is a good idea." The Chancellor spoke up again, from where he stood at the window. "Master Jedi – may I suggest… the Senator be placed under the protection of your graces?"
"You really think that's a wise decision in these stressful times?" The voice of Bail Organa was familiar. It played often in her memories and nightmares. There was no bad blood between them, yet one of Raiko's first missions had involved the Ambassador – and it was traumatising for both of them. She hadn't greeted him, just gave him a polite smile that he returned.
Padmé interrupted the musings of the two men, with all the sharpness of a woman sick of being ordered around. "Chancellor, if I may comment, I do not believe-"
"The situation is that serious?" The Chancellor spoke over her again, and Padmé fell silent. "No, but I do, Senator. I realise all too well that additional security might be disruptive to you, but perhaps – like the Padawan Omari – someone familiar to you. An old friend. Master Kenobi." The Chancellor suggested smoothly. She shuddered slightly at the way her name slid out of his mouth. Politicians were so…smooth, to the point of being slimy.
"That's possible." Master Windu spoke up. "He's just returned from a border dispute on Ansion." Raiko almost snorted. Less of a simple dispute, and more of an all-out blood-bath. Anakin had called her the night cycle before, to detail her with the story of their daring escapades, including showing her his new scar. Idiot. She thought affectionately, sending a pinging warmth through their bond.
He responded almost immediately, a quick barrage of return affection, curiosity and worry returning through. Of course he'd be worried about Padmé – and overjoyed once he knew that he'd be stationed on guard duty for her.
"Do it for me, milady, please." The Chancellor said imploringly, approaching Padmé slowly. "The thought of losing you… is unbearable." He finished sadly.
"I will have Obi-Wan report to you immediately, milady." Mace nodded to Padmé, as her Master sent her a fleeting brush of a good-bye, filing from the chamber with the rest of the council members. Raiko fell into step with Padmé, holding out her arm for the other woman to take.
"Master Obi-Wan Kenobi…" Padmé said aloud, musingly. Her eyes were far away, remembering.
"Anakin will be with him." Raiko said quietly, smiling slightly as Padmé's eyes widened and she flushed lightly.
"Anakin… who-? Oh, yes… Anakin." She made a great show out of 'remembering' the man – making Raiko stifle a laugh. Padme frowned at her, nudging her slightly.
"Come off it, Padmé." She leant a little closer to the woman, so that the rest of her party couldn't hear them. "I can feel your excitement." The woman made a small choking noise before she regained her composure.
"Perhaps I am just excited for the vote." Padmé sniffed, and turned her nose up. Raiko just laughed again, as they filed into the elevator.
Raiko reclined on the couch as Padmé's assistants continued to prepare the apartment, setting up stations and wardrobes, after the all clear from the security team. Raiko had gone over the place with Padmé's security chief as well, and though she noted several minor dangers to security, she figured Anakin and Obi-Wan would have it covered.
She could feel them approaching.
Her Force bond to both of them made them all very attune to each other – much to Anakin's excitement and Obi-Wan's occasional annoyance. Anakin's Force signature was as strong as ever – and she wouldn't have needed a bond with him to sense his approach anyway, because of how much he influenced the living Force around him just by being there. Obi-Wan on the other hand, was as restrained as ever – a cool tone to Anakin's fiery presence. She hadn't seen the pair in a few months now, with only snatches of conversation with Anakin to tide over the break. She had missed them, and was just as excited as Padmé was trying not to be.
It was Jar-Jar's loud exclamation of greeting that made her stand, shooting Padme a wink as she surreptitiously adjusted her position by the window. Raiko leant, casually on the back of the couch as the pair of them walked into the room. Obi-Wan's eyes went straight to her, but predictably, Anakin's gaze locked itself onto Padme.
"Long time no see." Raiko said, smiling faintly. Obi-Wan nodded to her, eyes giving her a paternal once over with a careful blankness that belied his concern. He had missed her too – she could feel it through their link.
"Keeping out of trouble, Padawan Omari?" Obi-Wan asked, raising an eyebrow.
She grinned, "As much as I can, Master, you know me. Anakin." She greeted her friend, who gave her a grin of his own.
"You've gotten shorter." He said cheekily.
She scowled at him, "Nerod." Idiot. She spat, and then turned to Padmé, sending her a sweet smile. "Well, I can see I'm no longer needed here, Ambassador. It was a pleasure seeing you again, and I hope Master Kenobi, and Anakin's presence here will ease your mind." She said, making Padme narrow her eyes at her. "Good day, everyone."
She bowed to the room, shot Anakin a wink, and then turned on her heel to leave – satisfied with the sudden flurry of fluster from both Padmé and Anakin. Obi-Wan sent her a faint blast of exasperation, making her grin as she got in the elevator.
They had it covered.
Raiko stopped by the training dojo on her way back to her quarters.
She was feeling agitated, and whether it was her own agitation or Anakin's was anyone's guess. She knew she wouldn't really settle without clearing her mind a little. Normally, in the presence of her Master – she'd be instructed to meditate. But Raiko knew that to clear her mind, she needed to distract her body.
Saber training was her own peace.
Sweating and aching from stretches and flips and turns – arms sore from holding her saber aloft – that was when she found peace. The Force only ever really came easily when she was fighting, when she moulded with her saber to become one single entity.
Panting, she collapsed onto the floor, lying spread-eagled on the hardwood floor.
"Are you alright, Raiko?"
The small voice of her favourite youngling roused her enough to sit up, groaning at the protesting muscles in her core. Ahsoka Tano stood in the doorway of the dojo, smiling eagerly. Raiko managed a smile in return and got to her feet. "Just fine, 'Soka, how are you?"
"Good! I started my final kata today – you wanna see?" the little torgruta bounced eagerly on the balls of her feet, grinning hopefully.
Raiko nodded, sighing slightly as her calves ached as she stretched them lightly. "Come on then, show me what you got."
Ahsoka responded brilliantly to the challenge, pulling out her little dual training lightsabers and falling into Jar'kai stance. The Torgruta seemed to like Jar'kai technique better than the others, and had gone down the dual-saber path since she had been able to chose what forms she wished to study. Sometimes, Raiko would practice with her, keeping her Jar'kai fresh in her mind. The younger girl was a fun opponent – and it was entertaining to train with the girl, even if most of the time Raiko had to stop early to avoid Ahsoka from hurting herself in her eagerness to keep up with the elder Padawan learner. It was cute really.
Raiko reactivated her saber, grinning as Ahsoka let out her customary appreciative hum. Ahsoka had always liked her white-saber, and it was flattering to have an admirer.
It had been a struggle to use the lightsaber at first – not literally, but socially. After days of debate within the council – Raiko had finally been returned her pearl, and had been permitted to build her lightsaber. Turning up to Obi-Wan's door in tears, she had been gently lead by the elder boy, who had held her hand when Yoda had taken the pearl off her for council examination. There were still Jedi, Padawan and Masters alike who frowned upon her white blade. Afterall – she hadn't exerted much if any effort to find it, in fact, she'd had it all her life. But they didn't know – they couldn't know what she had seen in the caves of Ilum. Anakin usually reminded her to ignore them, that they had no idea.
But her saber worked just as well as any other crystal powered saber, and she could use it just as well, if not better than her naysayers anyway. And Ahsoka liked it, and Anakin thought it was pretty, and Plo had never said anything against it. It was enough for her.
Raiko was careful, gentle with the youngling, as they battled it out on the dojo mats. She was careful with her strikes, not wanting to injure Ahsoka – and when she had disarmed the youngling, she deactivated her saber mid-killing strike. Ahsoka just pouted, running over to collect her fallen saber. "When will I be as good as you?" she asked almost petulantly. "I want you to be my Master."
Raiko just laughed, lightly tugging at one of Ahsoka's head-tails. The young girl already had developed her facial markings fully, and she was growing in a set of horns, just little blue-grey nubs now – but Raiko could see she would be beautiful when she was older. "I don't think I'd make a good Master. I want to be a Knight. It's all I'm good at, anyway."
Ahsoka shook her head determinedly. "I think you're a good teacher."
"If I was your Master, we'd have to stop our sleepovers. We'd have to be… formal." Raiko pointed out theatrically, and Ahsoka gave a look of horror. Raiko chuckled again, and span Ahsoka around directing her to the door. "Come on, it's getting late. Do you want to come see Master Plo with me before bed?" Ahsoka cheered, and bounced ahead, leaving Raiko to switch off the lights.
Raiko truly couldn't see herself becoming any sort of Master. Perhaps she could be a teacher, if all she taught was lightsaber form and combative skills – but she didn't have enough patience, experience nor Force ability to be a true Master. Her Force skills lay almost solely within emotional capacities, and lightsaber duelling. Unlike Anakin, who could lift a ship without a sweat, it took Raiko intense focus to move even a piece of fruit to her fork.
For all her Master's assurances that it didn't mean she was any less of a Jedi – it did mean she was weaker. It was still a reminder of what she lacked.
