Because I procrastinated on my schoolwork, I now have another chapter. Small warning though, I just wrote this out of nowhere. What does that mean you ask? That means I wasn't feeling very well emotionally and that may have influenced how the final product came out. May have many typos that spell check did not catch, but I haven't read through it completely. This is me writing it once without really going through it. Yay? =/ Bright side is a bit of a longer chapter. So yay on that.

Throwerpro: Thanks a bunch. =)

Now onward!

Max was running, she was being hunted, hunted by someone, no something that knew her well. She gasped as she came around a turn, halting as she saw the door shut tight. Her hand flew to the key pad on the side, her fingers punching in a code she never knew before then. She did not stop to think as to how she knew as she was frantic.

'Oh poor little Max is scared…' A cold voice cooed from behind.

She gasped whirling around only to be met with emptiness. Her hand trembled as a sense of dread filled her core. She gripped her saber igniting as she turned back to the pad, her fingers finishing the code. The door swooshed open and she barely managed to block the red saber from cleaving her in two. Her eyes widened in shocked as she looked into…

"Max! Wake up!" Alec shook her awake; he had first heard her thrashing about when he had gotten up to get a drink of water. Once he had entered the room, its contents had been floating around violently. He was a little glad though that her saber wasn't floating about activated though. He shook her once more, "Max it's only a dream!" He sighed in relief as the storm in the room began to lessen, his eyes following the saber as it was the last thing to drop to the floor, "Max?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she groaned as she adjusted to the light, "What the?" She sat up holding her head, it felt as if someone had taken a bat to her head, "What happened?" She looked up at Alec, confused at seeing him there. "Why are you in here?"

"You were having some sort of nightmare I think, came in and all this crap was floating. You were too, kinda. It was weird." He helped her sit up, "Looks like you're ok now."

"Yeah, dunno what I was dreaming though. I think I was scared though, like worse than anything I've ever been." She frowned trying to remember the details, "I…I think I was being hunted."

Alec stared down at her, worry filling his very core. It could just be a dream, but he had read the Jedi archives, some people could have visions of the future. He prayed that was not the case with her and that it was just a normal nightmare of some sorts from all the training and stress they had been under. By the looks of it, Max seemed to have realized the same thing as him. "Max don't even think about it. It was just a nightmare. Don't look too deeply into it." She just looked at him not saying anything, "We aren't sure ok? Anyways, if anything ask Obi-Wan, I'm sure he wouldn't mind hearing about it and giving you some advice. It'll be ok."

She just nodded a bit, looking out her window as speeders raced on by, "Alec…" Her eyes glazed a bit, "It's been four months and we aren't closer to getting back home than the Council is to rethinking their Code. Why do I get the feeling we won't ever see them again?" She felt his arms around her as she closed her eyes, she missed everyone. All she wanted was to go home, to crawl into bed and wake up with everything back to normal, actually she'd settle for being in charge of Terminal City, heck maybe even being back at Manticore. Why? Because if she was in Manticore she'd be back on earth, which means she could escape and return to her life. She hated this.

"Max, we can't control what happened. All we can do is try to learn as much as we can about this world and hope that we find a way back to Earth. If push comes to shove, we can leave this planet and travel on our own to see what we can find. But we need to learn as much as possible. Maybe we will go home, maybe not. Who knows? The point is we can look after each other." He saw her about to interrupt him and he held his hand up to pause her, having a feeling about what she was about to say, "Yes, we might never see them, but you have to think that they are ok. They can take care of themselves."

She just silently stared at him before nodding, "Alright. Anyway, I better get up and ready. Gotta go train with Anakin. Aren't you doing meditation with Kenny?"

"Yea yea. It's not like I really need it. You're the one that's all 'one with the force' not me. I still see no point in doing it. All I do is sit and do nothing when I could be somewhere else doing something else. I am a busy man after all."

Max chuckled, "You're just antsy you haven't gotten laid." She was up and about getting her clothes as she headed into the bathroom, "Admit it." She heard no response as she turned on the shower. After about twenty minutes she was out in her room getting dressed. The door opened and turned ready to smack Alec since she was still in her undergarments when she paused. The look on his face spoke off… "Oh shit!" He looked horny, like ready to jump her horny. "Alec?" She put her shirt on quickly. "You um, ok?" She went to grab her pants but before she realized it he was on her, trying to kiss her. "Alec! Get a hold of yourself!" She struggled with him as he used his body mass to his advantage and tore at her shirt kissing her neck, "Stop it! Before you do something you'll regret!" He tried to pin her down with his weight as his hand went down to her underwear, his fingers pulling at it but she managed to flip him over. Before he could react she threw a punch, "Goddamnit!" Then she slammed her head onto his, that appeared to stun him for a bit, but that was enough time for her to use the force to open a drawer and have some cuffs fly at her. She cuffed him quickly to the bed before backing away breathing hard, "Sorry. Not really but this is the only way." She stared at him as it appeared his head cleared.

"Max?" He looked at her his eyes widening at her shirt, "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It just came out of nowhere." His eyes pleaded with her as he realized he was in heat and while that was no excuse, he had not meant what had happened.

Max was calming herself down, or at least trying, she had never really been in a situation like that, at least one where she might not have been able to escape. She stared at him, knowing it really wasn't his fault. She knew what it was like to go into heat, but she never realized how dangerous, or damaging, it could be if the other…participant was unwilling. "It's ok Alec. Um, I won't be letting you go any time soon. So get comfortable." At his nod she grabbed some clothes and quickly exited the room before dressing. She picked up her com link, "Obi-Wan?"

"Yes Max?"

"Alec is having some Earth related issues right now and won't be making any lessons for a few days. In fact, he won't be leaving the apartment. I'll be staying too just in case."

"I see; whatever is the matter with him?"

"Uh well you see that's kinda hard to explain."

"Well I will be over to check up on you two in about a standard hour then."

"No! I mean, that's thoughtful and all but you don't have to. Just use the time and train Anakin more."

She heard a distant, "Hey!" before Obi-Wan answered, "Alright. See you later then."

She sighed in relief; that could have been very awkward. She stretched a bit groaning; at least she had not gone into heat as well. Then it would have been very bad. She glanced about shuddering as her mind went back to what had happened earlier, she tried to banish those thoughts but they kept coming back. She hoped that this would not ruin her friendship with Alec, something that had taken a while to build and maintain. Deciding there was nothing better to do than to work on her training Max pulled out her lightsaber setting it to training mode, before working on some small moves. After about two hours she went to her room with a plate full of food. Alec glanced at her, "Hey."

"Hey."

Cue in the awkwardness.

"I just thought you might be hungry. Um, I haven't thought about how you're going to go to the bathroom. I'm thinking just three times a day until you get better."

"Yeah, unless you want me to go all over your bed."

She twitched a bit, "No. Anyways, eat up." She set it up on the side table by him, "I'll come back in a few." With that she headed out.

Max began to work on her force powers, levitating a small ball before adding in more and more items. Soon half the things that could move in the sitting area where floating as she had her eyes closed, meditating. Suddenly her door buzzed, indicating someone was there. That threw her out of concentration and suddenly everything; including herself, fell to the ground. She groaned rubbing her side; she hadn't realized she was floating as well. She grumbled a curse as she got up, quickly going to the door as it buzzed again; she was getting ready to hurt someone. "What?" She stopped, "Oh Hey Kenny. What brings you to my humble abode?"

He cocked a brow, "Came to check up on you. Anakin's idea." At the sound of his name, Anakin came into view smirking.

She groaned, "Well as you can see, all good. Kk thanks bye."

"Now, now. Not going to invite us in?"

She sighed, "Um, it's a bit messy. I was meditating and you guys startled me sooo. Mess all over the place. I'd rather you not see it like this."

"Max, I'm sure we will manage. Now why does it sound like you're trying to hide something?"

Max was inwardly groaning, why could they have not just stayed away. She knew something like going into heat wasn't too bad but she'd rather not have to explain it. "Come in then." She stepped to the side allowing them to enter. She studied their reactions to the mess, "Told ya."

"Where's Alec?"

"He is currently bedbound. And its best not to disturb him."

"What kind of sickness is it? I'm sure if he were taking to the med-bay he could get better."

"No well its just something that happens naturally from where we come from. Nothing that a few days in isolation won't cure."

"So this is common?"

"Yes. I mean, even I will eventually get it. Don't worry about it."

"So what exactly is it?" that had come from Anakin.

When Obi-Wan wasn't looking she shot him a look, "Nothing big. But you guys should really-"

She was stopped by a certain noise coming from her room. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. Her two guest's reactions though were fairly comical. Obi-Wan's eyes were just wide, his jaw a bit opened. Anakin on the other hand was a bit red having realized what was going on and the boy was looking down. She couldn't help but laugh a bit, that is until she heard the name Alec had moaned out. At that she went red.

"Bedridden you don't say?"

"Um…Lets give him a minute."

"And how about you use that minute to explain?"

"Um…Well…" shit. No other choice now. "Well, as you know we had some tampering in our genetic structure. Well, because of that we have certain…Quirks you can say. Um, Alec is in heat."

At that Anakin began to laugh a bit before he realized she was being serious, in which case, he stopped and stared, and then stared some more.

"You aren't joking." That brilliant statement was made by Obi-Wan.

"No. It's in our genetics. It happens randomly, just like a feline. But um, he's cuffed to the bed so he won't be going out to screw or anything."

"I see. How long before he returns to…normal?"

"In a few days. I really wasn't kidding when I said he was bedbound." She crossed her arms, "And I can't leave here cause if he somehow manages to escape, he would seduce and fuck some poor innocent girl… And since I am stronger than most human girls and don't really need sleep, I'm the perfect bodyguard to make sure he can't escape."

"I see. Well then…It seems you won't be meeting the Council tomorrow then."

"What's going on tomorrow?"

"It seems there are some complications with one of the Senators here and they wanted the four of us there, so we can protect her. Obviously since I am in charge of you two, I have to take you with me. Hopefully, if we have to go off planet he will be well by then."

"Yeah, specially since you just mentioned it was female. Can't have him try anything now can we?"

Max noticed when she mentioned Alec trying something on this Senator, Anakin's whole demeanor changed. His eyes had narrowed slight and his body language screamed bodily harm. Huh, how strange. She knew this was an odd reaction unless of course, the two of them had some kind of history together. Interesting. She filed that into the back of her head as she stretched, "Well you two should get going. I've got to clean up and stuff."

"Yes it seems you have quite the mess here." His tone was teasing, "We will leave you to it then." With that the both of them walked out. As soon as the door shut she let out the breath she was holding. She was glad they hadn't tried to see him, it would have been very awkward to explain why Alec was tied to her bed rather than his and that was one conversation she'd rather not have. She would ignore what he had moaned out, after she was the only female in the vicinity so she thought would try to think nothing of it. Wait, no she wouldn't try. She would. Yeah. So with that set, Max began the troublesome duty of cleaning.

"Max?"

"Yea Alec?"

"I was a total jerk while I was in heat." He didn't really apologize literally, but his tone spoke wonders.

"It's ok. I mean, now I understand why you're always fooling around." She chuckled, "If you don't then come heat time you get desperate."

"Why would you think me going for you is desperate?"

"Because Alec, you and me? Not gonna happen. Ever." She didn't realize that her words sliced into him deeply, "Sides, we're too different. Opposites. And it just wouldn't work out. Why are we even talking about this?"

"No reason."

"We should get going or Kenny will have a fit if we are late meeting him and this Senator. I hear they're trying to assassinate her, even blew up a ship. And something about some poisonous bugs as well."

"Yeah alright then. Lets get going."

"This is Senator Padme Amidala."

"I'm Max and that's Alec, nice to meet you." There was a courtesy bow from them.

"Nice to meet you, Obi-Wan has told me a few things about you two."

"Oh really? Like?"

"You constantly bicker." Though her face was impassive her tone said otherwise.

"Ah well that's not my fault. You see I have a small tolerance for stupidity and well, Alec just likes to set me off." She felt Alec frown at that.

"Now Senator, don't believe her." He held her hand and kissed it gently smiling, "You are such a beauty you know?"

Padme just chuckled pulling away, "Anakin also told me to be wary of you and your flirtations. I believe he said 'if its female he will make a play for attention'."

At this Alec threw Anakin a dirty look, only to find the young Padawan glaring at him. Max, being the super smart bioengineered woman that she was put two and two together to make four. Interesting, he has feelings for her. And with the Code being what it is… She felt a pang of understanding. She knew what it was like to love someone but being unable to be with them. Destiny seemed to be cruel to a lot of people.

"So I hear that Alec will be the one accompanying us to Naboo, is that right Anakin?"

At the sound of his name Anakin stopped giving Alec the dirty look and turned to her, "Yes m'lady. Though I would prefer Max, she is the better fighter after all." Alec scowled at this but said nothing as Anakin continued, "Our transport leaves in a few hours m'lady. Perhaps you should make sure all you need is packed."

Padme nodded, "I will see you later then." With that she entered her room.

Max turned to Obi-Wan, "So Kenny, what exactly am I stuck doing with you?"

"We will be investigating the source from which the poison dart came from in hopes of finding the one after Senator Amidala. Though I rather have you go with Anakin, Master Yoda suggested you came with me."

"Huh, what's the little fur-ball up to I wonder?"

"Max."

"What? I was just asking!"

Obi-Wan sighed, silently asking the force for patience, "Max when will you begin to respect the Council and its Masters?"

"You already know my views on the Council Obi-Wan; I can't respect them for that. I may come to respect certain individuals, but I won't show those who I believe not worthy of it, any respect."

He sighed shaking his head, knowing no matter what he said he could not change her mind. "Very well then, I suppose you both are packed already?" They both nodded indicating to their bags, "Good. That means all we need to do now is wait for the time to arrive." With that they settled down to wait until it was time for them to head to the transport area.

When the time neared they were surprised not only by both Yoda and Windu but by the Chancellor Palpatine. Now when Max first saw him she realized he gave the whole, 'I'm a sweet old man don't pay any attention to me tra-la-la' vibe. However in her book that translated into something like pedophile, or something equally bad. She glanced at Alec who seemed to be a bit on edge as well. She was glad she wasn't the only seeing as everyone was nice. She did make note however, that while the 'Masters' may have been curteous, it appeared forced. Huh, how interesting. They don't trust him. But then again, given what Obi-Wan told me about his track record, he has too much power. Way too much. Almost like he had read her thoughts he turned to face her and smiled.

"You must be the lovely Max I've heard so much about. A pleasure to meet you." He kissed her hand and at that very moment she was very glad she wore gloves. Maybe it was her Manticore training, but something was wrong with this man. She sensed Alec tense beside her, almost as if he wanted to attack. "You must be Alec. I've heard quite a bit about you as well."

"Oh really? Whatever they said I'm sure can't be true."

That sent the Chancellor into chuckles, "I see you know your reputation amongst the Jedi."

He shrugged, "Kinda hard to miss it when I was the one that created it…Sir."

Max had to hold herself back from snorting, she knew he was mocking him and by the looks of it, so did everyone else. The man just smiled a bit, "I suppose so. Well then, we should get going. So much to do, so little time." With that said they all climbed into a transport vehicle that would take them to where Anakin, Alec, and Padme would leave. She would admit, she hated the small space, specially since she was so close to him. But what could she do? Soon enough they landed. The Chancellor staid behind after saying his farewell to the Senator before everyone got out. The others continued their walk until Max and Alec were safely behind them that they could speak without being overheard.

"You getting the same vibe?"

She nodded silently, pondering why even some Jedi could not feel it.

"Max, be careful. I don't like this, getting split up."

"I know. But…Just go. Take care of Anakin. Remember those few times we've overheard Obi-Wan talking about the Chancellor?" at his nod she continued, "So make sure nothing happens to him. I'll be fine, I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."

"I know but still. You watch out for anything out of the ordinary, or too ordinary."

She nodded, "You make sure to take care. Don't go after a pretty face ok?"

"Maxie, I thought you trusted me!"

She snorted, "Trust you as a soldier? Yes. As a man? Hell no."

He glared a bit as she laughed. They reached the others and finally they parted ways. She would admit, she was worried about him and Anakin. Sure they hadn't known Anakin long, but she grew to care for the kid who had so much passion yet lived in a world where such a thing was forbidden.

"So what now?" She and Obi-Wan were now in the Jedi hangar-bay. They were looking for a ship that held two and a space droid.

"Well it seems our ship is being prepped, the Masters have given us our mission." She stood quietly, "What's the matter Max?"

His questioned seemed to snap her out of a daze, "What?"

"I asked what's the matter. You were fine up until we left the Senator's apartment." Max bit her lip pondering whether or not to let him in on her thoughts, "Max, sometimes it is better to speak your thoughts."

"Not when they can possibly be interpreted as treason. And they kinda could depending on how someone warps them."

"Hm?"

She sighed running her fingers through her hair, "I don't trust the Chancellor. He gives me the creeps."

"Why do you say that?"

"There is just something about his whole demeanor that sets my alarms ringing. And Alec's as well."

"…The Council is looking into it." She turned to him, a bit shocked that they would actually be looking into it. Yes she had seen Yoda's and Windu's reaction, however she honestly believed they would do nothing. She wanted to ask more. "That is all I will say." He had anticipated her questioning. "Now let us go." With that said Max drew a big breath as this would be her second time in space. Sure she had driven a speeder through the planet, but this was a ship. Small yes, but a ship nonetheless, one that she would be expected to drive at least part of the time to see if she had learned enough through the seminars she had to have taken.. She was glad she would have Obi-Wan with her though.

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