Eternal Balance: Chapter 6

By The Al Bhed Slayer

A/N: Ok, like I said, there's no cat fight. Akaia will just get annoyed by Padme for now! R'n'R!

Awkward silence…it was nerve-racking. Perhaps it wouldn't have been if everything wasn't so crazed. Seeing as Akaia had opted to stay behind and keep an eye on Padme – not the best idea on her part –, she couldn't shake the bad feeling she was getting. She now paced tensely back and forth, glancing out the now-broken window ever so often. She hadn't said one word to the senator and hadn't planned to for the most part. Unfortunately, a half hour into the complete silence, the former queen had spoken up. "You don't think they're in danger, do you?"

Considering she did not want to deal with her own emotions, much less anyone else's, she smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure they're fine." She shrugged. "I just can't help but worry…force of habit, I suppose."

I should've gone with them, I knew I should've! Padme would've been all right; she has plenty of guards! She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Nothing's wrong. They can take care of themselves. They are Jedi, after all…

"How long have you known them?" came the question.

Akaia turned to her, face completely blank. Great. More talking. "About over a month or so."

"Are you training to be a Jedi as well?" The senator asked curiously.

"Me?" The former 'guardian' queried, a bit shocked. "No. Just here until my memory returns or something drastic happens, whichever happens first."

She had awaited the next question, but before Padme had said another word, the two men finally made their way in the room, both out of breath. At that moment, something had clicked. Akaia walked over quickly, hiding her relief, and staring expectantly at them. "Did you find anything?"

Anakin nodded. "The assassin."

"But she was killed," Obi Wan continued, holding out a small item with a symbol on it, "With this."

"At least it's a lead," she replied rather meekly.

The older man responded, "But it still means Senator Amidala is in danger." He sighed. "We'll discuss it further with the council tomorrow."

The other two nodded, Akaia leaving the room right after and Anakin following seconds later. She stopped, falling back on the couch drowsily. He went over and sat next to her, both of them sitting in a comfortable silence for a few moments. After a little, he fixed his eyes on her. "Did you really expect me to forget?"

She kept her gaze straight ahead. "It was less an expectation and more a hope."

He ignored the comment and began. "What you said earlier…you seemed-"

"Like I said, it wasn't about you," she cut him off.

"…upset," he finished, his expression showing concern.

Why was he doing this? It was times like this she wished he was more like all the Jedi she'd met…but no. And she knew very well that he wouldn't leave the matter alone until she gave a plausible reason. Sure…that'll be easy. "I'm fine, okay?"

Great comeback.

"You know, you're not the only one who can be stubborn," he commented lightly.

She searched for something to say without embarrassing herself again. Almost a minute later, she finally met his gaze. "Remember when…you couldn't tell me about your dream?" Not waiting for a response, she went on. "Well, this is similar...It's too personal. I can't tell you right now."

Anakin nodded in response, refraining his objections. A bit hurt, he got up, still staring at her. "I just hope you can one day," He repeated her own words. He exited the room, leaving Akaia alone to contemplate it all.

The Jedi council, at hearing the news about the latest of the attempts on Senator Amidala's life, they had ordered Obi Wan to find the bounty hunter the assassin had mentioned. Of course, that left the remaining three.

"What about Senator Amidala?" Obi Wan had asked. "She will still need protecting."

"Handle that, Akaia and your padawan will." Yoda told them.

"Both of you," Master Windu proceeded. "Escort the senator back to her home plant of Naboo. She'll be safer there. And don't use registered transport. Travel as refugees."

Akaia hadn't let herself think about it yet, finding it best to do so on the way.

"As the leader of the opposition," the padawan analyzed, "It will be very difficult to get Senator Amidala to leave the capital."

"Until caught this killer is, our judgment she must respect." Yoda responded firmly.

"Go to the senate and ask Chancellor Palpatine to speak with her about this matter," Mace added.

Both Obi Wan and Anakin bowed as they left, Akaia following after. She had refused to bow before the council after reading the code, causing a slight rift.

Akaia stood outside the Chancellor's office, waiting for Anakin to finish speaking with the man. She never so uncomfortable in a place, not even that cell she'd been in. There was a strong sense of foreboding about it, something very dark. Of course, if she told Anakin any of that, she wasn't sure if he'd believe her. She knew how much the future Jedi looked up to the Chancellor, the only way to describe it was hero worship. Although she had never met Palpatine, she had never wanted to. There was something very off about the man…she just wished – for Anakin's sake – that she was wrong.

Finally, the padawan walked through the door. They both made their way out of the building, Akaia trying not to walk faster than she wanted to. He gave her a strange look. "What's wrong?"

"I just had an odd feeling back there," she replied, still uneasy.

"You didn't have to wait in the hall, you know," he told her.

She shrugged uncertainly. "I didn't want to intrude."

"I'm sure he would've been pleased to finally meet you," he informed her confidently, with an encouraging smile.

"Maybe," she hesitantly agreed. I'm not so sure I want to find out…

Only an hour later, Anakin and Akaia waited patiently for Padme to speak to Jar Jar. Akaia, unsure of what all this will affect, instead thought of a lighter subject. "What's it like?"

"What's what like?" The young man beside her asked in confusion, looking down at the girl.

"Naboo," She simply answered. "You said you'd been there. So…what's it like?"

He thought back to the last time he was on the planet. "It was…amazing. Exactly like the eastern side of Lotora."

She briefly reminisced on the much more scenic side of unstable planet. And all of Naboo is like that?

Senator Amidala strode past the two, visibly angered. "I do not like this idea of hiding."

"Don't worry," Anakin followed, trying to reassure her. "Now that the council has ordered an investigation, it won't take Master Obi Wan long to find this bounty hunter."

Hastily, she packed, her resentment unfaltering. "I haven't worked for a year to defeat the military creation act to now be here when its fate is decided."

"Sometimes we must let go of our pride and do what is requested of us," he answered quite calmly.

Akaia arched an eyebrow questioningly, all the while Padme seemed amazed. "Anakin, you've grown up."

"Obi Wan manages not to see it." He walked towards the window in the room.

Akaia sighed, deciding to step in. "Anakin…"

"What? You've seen the way he acts." He walked back towards the door. "It's not fair!"

And that sounded ever so mature…Akaia thought.

From her closet Padme told them, "All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like." She walked back out. "It's the only way we grow."

"And don't think no one on that council has ever broken a rule," Akaia added.

The padawan stifled a laugh at the thought of even Master Yoda breaking even the simplest rule.

The former guardian shrugged.

"No one's perfect."

TBC

A/N: Yay! Ani/Padme moment was averted! Next time they actually ARRIVE on Naboo. See ya.