'Out there, they are,' Yoda said with resignation. 'A certainty that is.' Yoda was referring to the prophecy, of course, that the dark side would rise and that one would be born who would bring balance to the Force and to the galaxy. Such a potential chosen one was now known among them, and that, too, brought more than a little trepidation to these hallowed halls.
'Do you think Obi-Wan's learner will be able to bring balance to the Force?' Mace asked.
Yoda stopped walking and slowly turned to regard the other Master, his expression showing a range of emotions that reminded Mace that they didn't know what bringing balance to the Force might truly mean. 'Only if he chooses to follow his destiny,' Yoda replied, and as with Mace's question, the answer hung in the air between them, a spoken belief that could only lead to more uncertainty.
Both Yoda and Mace Windu understood the places that some of the Jedi, at least, might have to travel to find the true answers, and those places, emotional stops and not physical, could well test all of them to the very limits of their abilities and sensibilities.
They resumed their walk, the only sound the patter of their footsteps. In their ears, though, both Mace and Yoda heard the ominous echo of the diminutive Jedi Master's dire words.
'Only by probing the dark side can we see.'
Chapter Eight
The door chime was not unexpected; somehow, Padme had known that Anakin would come to speak with her as soon as the opportunity presented itself. She started for the door, but paused, and moved instead to retrieve her robe, aware suddenly that her nightgown was somewhat revealing. Her movements again struck her as curious, though, for never before had Padme Amidala harbored any feelings of modesty.
Still, she pulled the robe up tight as she opened the door, finding, predictably, Anakin Skywalker standing before her.
'Hello,' he said, and it seemed as if he could hardly draw his breath.
'Is everything all right?'
Anakin stuttered over a response. 'Oh yes,' he finally managed to say.
'Yes, my Master has gone to the lower levels to check on Captain Typho's security measures, but all seems quiet.'
'You sound disappointed.'
Anakin gave an embarrassed laugh.
'You don't enjoy this,' Padme remarked.
'There is nowhere else in all the galaxy I'd rather be,' Anakin blurted, and it was Padme's turn to give an embarrassed little laugh.
'But this… inertia,' she reasoned, and Anakin nodded as he caught on.
'We should be more aggressive in our search for the assassin,' he insisted.
'To sit back and wait is to invite disaster.'
'Master Kenobi does not agree.'
'Master Kenobi is bound by the letter of the orders,' Anakin explained. 'He won't take a chance on doing anything that isn't explicitly asked of him by the Jedi Council.'
Padme tilted her head and considered this impetuous young man more carefully. Was not discipline a primary lesson of the Jedi Knights? Were they not bound, strictly so, within the structure of the Order and their Code?
'Master Kenobi is not like his own Master,' Anakin said. 'Master Qui-Gon understood the need for independent thinking and initiative-otherwise, he would have left me on Tatooine.'
'And you are more like Master Qui-Gon?' Padme asked.
'I accept the duties I am given, but demand the leeway I need to see them to a proper conclusion.'
'Demand?'
Anakin smiled and shrugged. 'Well, I ask, at least.'
'And presume, when you can't get the answers you desire,' Padme said with a knowing grin, though in her heart she was only half teasing.
'I do the best I can with every problem I am given,' was the strongest admission Anakin would offer.
'And so sitting around guarding me is not your idea of fun.' 'We could be doing better and more exciting things,' Anakin said, and there was a double edge to his voice, one that intrigued Padme and made her pull her robe up even tighter.
'If we catch the assassin, we might find the root of these attempts,' the Padawan explained, quickly putting the discussion back on a professional level. 'Either way, you will be safer, and our duties will be made far easier.'
Padme's mind whirled as she tried to sort out Anakin's thoughts, and his motivations. He was surprising her with every word, considering that he was a Jedi Padawan, and yet, given the fire that she clearly saw burning behind his blue eyes, he was not surprising her. She saw trouble brewing there, in those simmering and too- passionate eyes, but even more than that, she saw excitement and the promise of thrills.
And, perhaps, the promise of finding out who it was that was trying to kill her.
