Title: Restoring Balance
Author: Ticklesivory
Summary: This is the sequel to A Greater Devotion (which you should really read first or this one won't make much sense.) Padmé and her Jedi Protector, Obi-Wan, are moving to Coruscant, where she will accept the new position of Senator. In Galactic City, they discover new challenges and perils, as well as a plan to undermine everything they've both been working so hard to achieve.
Warnings: None, really.
Timeline: I'm taking them to Coruscant a little sooner than canon. In this story, Padmé will be 18-20 years of age.
Disclaimer: Just borrowed them to play with. I'll return them when I'm finished.
Rating: T for teen
Chapter One
The noise was going to take some getting used to. Obi-Wan was doing his best to try and help me relax and avoid focusing so much on it, but I was still struggling. It had been four months since we'd moved to the Senate Apartment Complex in Galactic City and I was still having trouble falling asleep. The noise level of the constant flow of air traffic outside of my windows was something I didn't think I'd ever be able to live with. Obi-Wan didn't seem to be having any trouble and was currently lying next to me, snoring softly. He was dreaming of Tlup and his clan, and I'd caught glimpses of a long table and teacups. Apparently, it was a pleasant sort of dream, unlike some he'd had in the past.
I didn't wish to wake him with my troubled thoughts and had learned that distance did seem to protect his mind from them, and I eased up from our bed. I poured myself a glass of wine and sat near the windows that looked out toward the Temple.
The Jedi must realize Obi-Wan is close by. My appointment to the Senate had been announced all over the Holonet, along with holopics of my Jedi husband. And yet, not a single soul from the Temple had come to visit him or even say hello. I had once believed the Jedi were like one big family, but now I wondered if they even got along. They seemed to be more like a special military force. Each with their own unique talents and skills, who worked as a team when required, but didn't mind working alone, and oftentimes preferred it.
I believed Obi-Wan when he'd told me he didn't miss them or his life as a Jedi. He had found his life's fulfillment with me, he had claimed. I didn't detect any deceit in his words or his mind when he'd told me that. I only wished I felt the same. It wasn't my life with Obi-Wan I was displeased with, it was the Senate. All they seemed to want to do is bicker and argue. They never agree on anything, and most of the time spent in session is wasted. The majority of them are looking out only for themselves or their constituents or on how much money they can make.
I often come home frustrated and angry, thankful that Obi-Wan is always there to soothe my rattled nerves as well as my tense muscles. He is my lifesaver in more ways than one.
I don't know what I thought it would be like in the Senate, but the reality isn't even close to my vision. My dream of creating a better galaxy is often tied up in hours of debate or bureaucratic red tape if they listen to me at all. Most of the time, I'm overruled or simply talked over because I'm considered too inexperienced or too young to know anything.
Even on my worst days, though, I'm not about to give up. Someday I will have my say and they will listen. Someday I will make a difference.
It helps when Obi-Wan accompanies me to work. Knowing he is patiently waiting for me in my office soothes all the raw edges. On other days, he stays home. Whenever I have the chance, I'll speak to him using our connection, but usually, I'm too busy gathering support for a necessary program or arguing in committees about funding for another.
It was during one of my worst days that I came upon a conversation occurring between two of my adversaries: Senator Dodd from Neimoidia and Senator Po from Ando. My Aqualish isn't very good, but I was able to decipher the general subject, and I didn't like what I heard.
The result of my eavesdropping bled shock into the bond and soon I heard Obi-Wan's concern in my head.
/Everything okay?/
I took a couple of deep breaths and turned in the other direction, went straight to my office, and grabbed my things. I'd planned on getting much more accomplished today, but I needed Obi-Wan's company.
/I'm coming home,/ I told him. /I've just heard some disturbing news that we need to discuss./
/I'll be waiting./
As he'd told me, he met me at the door, took my satchel and my cloak, and then held me. Immediately, a peaceful feeling flooded my anxious soul and I drew back to smile and show him I was all right.
"Come sit down," I suggested. Now that I'd had time to think, perhaps I'd read too much into what I'd overheard. After I shared it, I'd let Obi-Wan decide.
"Now you've really got me worried," he teased.
"It's probably nothing, but I overheard two senators talking in the hallway today about something called the Balance Initiative. One of them was Senator Po."
"His Basic is about as good as my Aqualish."
"Mine too," I agreed. "But Senator Dodd's comments were quite clear. It's a bill being brought before the senate which he claims is meant to defund the Jedi."
Obi-Wan looked about as disturbed as I felt. "Are you sure you heard him correctly?"
"I know we agreed to limit our shared viewing while I'm at work, but I'd wish you'd been listening with me. I definitely heard the words 'defund the Jedi,' and something this initiative. It had crossed my desk a few weeks ago, but I guess I misunderstood. I didn't bother looking at it since I'd been told it was an economical study. Could the Chancellor seriously be considering withdrawing support? What will the Jedi do? Can they survive on donations alone?"
"No," Obi-Wan answered while scrubbing his fully bearded chin. "Perhaps in the past, but gifts have been greatly reduced over the past few years. You do realize there's only one way to find out the truth."
"I'm not confronting Dodd," I confirmed adamantly. "He's always undermining everything I do. I really don't know why he dislikes me so much."
"I'm not talking about Senator Dodd," Obi-Wan told me. "We need to take this straight to the top. Go to the Chancellor and ask him. Hear what he has to say about it. Don't worry, I'll be with you, up here," he added, pointing to his temple.
I wasn't one to usually go over everyone else's head nor was I a snitch, but this was important enough to look into. However, there was no point in worrying about it until then either.
"Okay," I agreed before receiving a warm smile and a loving embrace. "I'll go see him first thing in the morning."