Eternal Balance II: Chapter 2

By Allied to Darkness

A/N: Sorry it took me so long. But what with vacation in St. Louis and writer's block, it took a while to finish. Hopefully the next chapter will go quicker. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews for chapter one! R'n'R!

Weeks after the Battle on Geonosis…

Anakin silently stalked into the Chancellor's office. The events of the battle on Geonosis still spun around freshly in his mind. His master had tried to help him to avail. Once he was ready to open up about his problems, he had concluded that only one person could help him. Of course, at the time, he didn't have a clue where she was, so he decided to see the Chancellor. The doors before him slid open as the old man's chair spun around to face him. Palpatine gave the boy a pleasant smile. "Anakin! How nice it is to see you again after so long…"

The Padawan strode through the threshold and nodded a hello. "Chancellor."

Palpatine's brow furrowed in worry. "What's the matter, my boy?"

Anakin paced before his mentor, stopping before he spoke through clenched teeth. "I didn't know where else to turn. I had to talk to someone…"

"Calm yourself, Anakin." The Chancellor stood and patted the young man on the shoulder, smiling gently. "Now what is this about?"

Anakin's eyes darkened as they became fixed to the floor. "My friend…Akaia. She-" He cut himself off, pausing for a moment to gather his emotions. When he found his voice again, he told the old man of what happened on Tatooine and what Akaia had done on Geonosis. "…and now she's gone. She's gone and I don't now where to even begin to look. I'm not even certain I should look."

"Why not?" Palpatine asked the boy curiously.

Finally lifting his gaze from the carpet, he exhaled in frustration. "I'm not sure she wants me to find her."

"Give it time," the Chancellor told him in a comforting voice. "Fate is quite powerful, you know. It could bring people into your life…take them away…or even give them back to you. Be patient."

Anakin glanced at his friend and nodded.

Palpatine continued. "Perhaps one day she'll return. And perhaps…" He turned away from the padawan and walked slowly towards his large window as a malevolent smile contorted his features. "This time apart is in fact what is needed."

Exactly what is needed, Darth Sidious thought.

Present Time

The night dragged on in the bustling city as Anakin stared out his window in silence. Speeders still raced by as the lights of the buildings illuminated everything they touched. It was a magnificent sight. Anyone could agree that Coruscant shined beautifully at night. Anyone but him. To the Jedi Knight, it all seemed incredibly dull. It had always fascinated him as a child but somewhere along the way, he had realized it was all artificial. I'd much rather watch a sunset on Naboo, he thought miserably. Something real…

His gaze turned cold at the mere thought of Naboo. He hadn't been there in so long, since…Since before the war, he reminded himself. It was often difficult for him to believe he'd been so content in so much turmoil.

Returning from the Outer Rim Sieges that day, Anakin had expected to feel some sort of relief. He was back and safe; what more could he ask for in times like these? But when he had gotten to his living quarters, the silence was almost too much bear. After all, it was that exact day three years ago when he had last seen Akaia.

His gaze moved to the Jedi Temple. He sometimes thought that maybe her disappearance wasn't his fault. What if it had been the Jedi? It was clear as day that she did not respect their way of life. She believed they didn't trust her. He'd recently come to the same conclusion for himself. He could still remember the words in his nightmare so long ago: Face the darkness, learn from it. Do not become it. Of course the council would never understand such reasoning. Maybe Akaia had been right about them…

She looked up at him gratefully. "I'm not saying that the Jedi should embrace the dark side, but they should at least understand it. They need to learn that there's darkness inside us all…no matter how deep they bury it."

But the same question still haunted him: What if she did all of it for me?

He stared at the orange-tinted sky, trying desperately to look beyond the city lights to the stars.

…Where are you?

The loud clanking of her boots on the metal floor announcing her entrance, Darth Feroce raised her hood and walked through the threshold to see droids rushing around her and an impatient General Grievous with his back to her. The cyborg started hacking, causing the 'sith lord' to wince in repulsion. She cleared her throat loudly, causing Grievous to turn around. She glared at him in revulsion. "You requested my presence, General?"

"Ah, Lady Feroce," he began, "how gracious of you to honor us with your company."

Her eyes narrowed on the cyborg. "May I ask General, who bestowed upon you the right to give your superior orders?"

"Lord Sidious of course." If the creature could smile at all, at that moment he would've. "You have orders to be on Coruscant by nightfall. He has news regarding the Jedi."

"And what precisely would this news have to do with me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He assured me if you should ask any questions, I must mention the name Skywalker," he spit out the name like it was acid.

If she hadn't already mastered hiding her emotions, she would have seemed shocked. "Is that all, General?"

Grievous didn't answer; he merely turned back around refocusing his attention on the droids. Akaia glowered at the droid/alien hybrid before striding out of the room.

Coruscant…she hadn't been there in so long. She had tried her best to avoid going there. Her memories on the planet only brought pain. Sometimes she wished she had never been found on Lotora; that she had just died there in that cell. And the worst part was that thought seemed more tempting as days passed. Suicidal thoughts passed through her mind frequently. The thought of death was comforting compared to all she had already done. She could still feel the blood of so many innocents on her hands. As her ship landed on the secret platform at the far reaches of the city, the same question the haunted her entered her mind again, Is it all worth it?

As the ramp lowered, Darth Feroce stalked out slowly, fingers entwined together, giving her a solemn look. At the sight of Lord Sidious, she stopped and gave a bow. "Master."

Standing up straight again, she added, "You wished to see me?"

That disturbing smile he always gave appeared on his face. "I have a very important task for you, my apprentice." Motioning for her to walk beside him, he began again. "In the Jedi Temple, I need you to search through the archives for any record of the last council meeting."

She stopped in her tracks, turning to the old man. "The Temple? But my lord…"

"Is this a problem?" He stopped as well, slightly facing her.

Gathering her emotions once more, she head went down. "No, of course not."

"Good." He smiled again. "You have until sunrise. If you do not return by then, I'll presume the outcome."

"I will return, Master." With that, she turned and stalked out, her cloak billowing behind her. The end is drawing near for you, my lord…

TBC

A/N: Poor Akaia. Let's just say the next chapter will make up for the utter depression of this one. Again, sorry it took so long to update.