Peace is a Lie. (/Imbalance.)

Part 3

A/N: Shorter chapter compared to the others.

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Smoothly gliding down, a yellow, triangular Aethersprite-class light interceptor descended upon the landing pad of Amidala's apartment inside the 500 Republica. Breath hitched in a concoction of relief and waning distress, the female senator of Naboo dashed through the opening transparisteel shield of the apartment and headed outside, anxious for the safety of Anakin. She had heard the news- the Jedi were being slaughtered. Until now, she had no confirmation over whether her husband was alive or not, and with no contact from him, she had suspected the worst.

In the distance, smoke was rising from the Jedi Temple- a blemish on the gorgeous Corustant skyline.

The Supreme Chancellor of the Republic had been assassinated, too, as well as the major commanders of the CIS. With the leaders of both major factions gone dead, the galaxy was in chaos. There was a massive power vacuum that needed to be filled, and with so much disorder already, it seemed almost evident that war would continue, and perhaps even escalate.

She could only hope those events to not occur.

Agile and healthy as ever, he jumped out from his starfighter, ran to the entrance between the landing pad and the inside of the apartment, and pulled Padme into a tight embrace. Oh, Force, he missed her; he constantly did, with every moment that they were apart. His wife closed her eyes and sunk her face into his chest, breathing in his scent, sighing in relief at his safety. Tears formed in her eyes, blurring her vision, as she muzzled her nose further into his body, letting his comforting warmth form a blanket around her.

They held on for a few moments more, the universe only consisting of him and her before the senator pulled out from his grasp. Looking up, she cupped her hands on his cheeks, then ran them down his neck and smoothed his shoulders, delightfully fondled his arms and held them near his elbows.

"Ani, I was so worried... I heard there was an attack on the Jedi Temple, you could see the smoke from here-"

His blood-streaked eyes were the color of some dark gold, almost like C-3PO's plating when he gleamed in Coruscant's night. Red was laced as a ring around the irises, making the hue appear almost orange.

"Anakin, what happened to you!?" Nimble fingers traced circles around his eyes as her brown orbs darted around, gazing frantically at his altered facade.

Her worry almost appeared to be unnoticed; with a means of solace, he had moved his left hand to affectionately caress the skin behind her right ear. His right hand moved to brush away a lovely strand of curled hair on her graceful, blushed cheek. "Angel, I now have the power to save the galaxy from death and corruption. I can now bring bliss and tranquility... and I'll be able to save you."

A gratified smile lurked on the handsome yet polluted face; the eyes glimmered, sending chills down her spine.

Eyebrows furrowing, she softly questioned: "Anakin, what are you talking about?"

The smile fell flat, the lips pulling down in fear. The words came out, slow and hesitant. "I saw you in a vision... you were in childbirth, you were screaming and crying... You faced... certain death."

She moved her mouth to speak but was silenced by a finger to her lips.

"But I can stop that now. I can save you; you won't suffer the same fate as my mother. Nor will the galaxy."

"Anakin, I'm afraid," she confessed, her voice nearly a whisper as the brown irises stared up into his frenzied eyes. His caresses came more frequent now, almost as if his intent was no longer to comfort her.