Anyone watch the Tudors? I'm SO sad for the last season. I'm a historian and feed off that show, and have lately been on a King Henry kick. I created a situation where our loverly heroes have to extract information from a King Henry VIII type character and navigate themselves through a King Henry type court. I have posted in a very, very long time (I'm SORRY, please don't hurt me!), but this one has been stuck in my head for quite a while. I hope you enjoy!
"Rex, change into your fatigues and meet us in the hanger in five," Anakin yelled down the hall. A startled Rex just nodded his head and turned to fill the order. Anakin and Ahsoka continued walking to the Resolute's hanger.
"Should I even ask?" Ahsoka said.
"Nope," Anakin smiled. "Because I don't know what it is either. All Obi-Wan said was for you, me, and our best trooper to meet him and the Council at the Temple."
The Resolute was in orbit around Coruscant, waiting its turn at a docking bay on the planet to refuel and restock. They had just arrived from hunting in the Outer Rim, following a ghost of a rumor of a large Separatist fleet, but found nothing. When they emerged from hyperspace, Obi-Wan's message was waiting for Anakin.
Five minutes later, a showered and clean-pressed Rex arrived, and the three entered a shuttle and left for the surface. In the quiet ride down, Ahsoka noticed there was something different about this shuttle. She looked around with a frown. The interior's the same. New seats? No…same. Is it colder in here? One of her senses was off, but she couldn't quite place it. She heaved a sigh. What's that? A new…nice smell? Looking around, tapping into her Togrutan hunting mode, she took in another deep breath without anyone noticing. It's…Rex? She couldn't turn around to look at him sitting behind her and Anakin, but she defiantly placed the smell. Huh. I don't think I've ever seen him scrubbed and out of his armor, actually. He cleans up nice. And smells a lot better than when he's in his stinky battle gear… She shook the thought out of her head.
"What?" Anakin looked over.
Ahsoka realized she had physically shaken the thought out of her head. "Oh…nothing. My thoughts just…wandered. I was…disagreeing with myself."
Anakin gave her a sideways glance of skepticism, but let the moment go.
Why do I even bother lying to him?
Anakin docked the shuttle in silence. Ahsoka noticed Obi-Wan was waiting for them on the Temple's landing platform. He nodded a greeting when they stepped off.
"I hear our rumor was just that," Obi-Wan addressed Anakin.
Anakin sighed and frowned. "I don't know where the Council has been getting this information lately, but it's terrible. We wasted two months and millions of gallons of fuel and supplies searching for nothing. It was a big, expensive, non-luxurious cruise."
They entered the lift to the Council room. "I understand your frustration, Anakin. But our source insisted we look into this one. You didn't even find a hint of Separatists once being there?"
"Not even their shadow," Anakin grumbled.
The four of them entered the Council room. Yoda and Mace were the only two physically present, however Luminara was via hologram. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Rex bowed.
Mace and Yoda nodded. "Unfortunate your mission was, Anakin," Yoda said. "Follow up our source, we will."
"However, we have a new development," Mace continued. "A new source of information."
Anakin groaned inwardly. He didn't understand how the Council got in touch with these sources, but so many of them had proved false that it was more of a nuisance now than anything.
"There is a small planet off the Outer Rim, Laon. Are any of you familiar with it?"
Obi-Wan shook his head but Anakin answered. "Not the planet itself, but I am aware the King of Laon and his court are here in Coruscant."
Mace frowned. "How do you know this?"
Anakin flicked his eyes down and stumbled, forgetting when Padmé told him that, it was in confidence. "Uh…I watch the HoloNet, Master."
Mace nodded slowly. "Yes, King Anyon and Queen Enys are here to attend several meetings of the Outer Rim planets considering joining the Republic. There are whispers, however, that the King is double dipping. Several independent sources report him in alliances with Dooku."
"Important that fact, is it not," Yoda added. "But, if in contact with the Count King Anyon is, information he may have."
"King Anyon has not been privy to any of our information. The delegates holding these meetings are careful and aware of that," Luminara explained. "But, if our source is correct, Dooku's subordinates are not. The king is a hard target with a valuable planet. Straight invasion doesn't work on Laon. It's too fortified and has too many valuable resources that Dooku wouldn't risk destroying. Perhaps the Separatist he was in contact with was trying to impress the King instead. This is where you come in."
Anakin shifted. "Excuse me, Master, but what makes you think King Anyon will readily give information to a Jedi?"
"He won't," Yoda answered. "Under cover, you will be."
Luminara nodded. "The king is fond of parties. Very…fond. This evening, in fact, he is hosting a Ball. Your instructions are to enter the Ball and extract the information, if there is any, from King Anyon."
Obi-Wan frowned. "You couldn't have picked anymore recognizable Jedi then Anakin and I. And not to mention a Clone?"
Rex shifted uncomfortably behind the Jedi. Obi-Wan turned. "No, Captain, forgive me. I didn't mean…"
"I understand General. You and General Skywalker are all over the HoloNews. I'm…physically on every planet. People will recognize us."
"If I may…" Mace interjected. "You were chosen because the Council believes you will be best for the assignment. And you won't be recognized. This Ball is a Masquerade."
Neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin had anything to say. The four stood looking at the three for a moment in silence. Ahsoka broke it.
"I…wasn't aware the Temple had items ready for us to use at a Masque."
Luminara smiled at Ahsoka. "No, Padawan, the Temple doesn't. I have been in contact with Senator Amadala. She has agreed to lend her expertise to preparing you for the occasion- costume and all."
Anakin's heart raced for a moment. He calmed himself and asked, "Has the Senator been invited to the king's Masque?"
Luminara shook her head. "These type of parties King Anyon throws are…questionable, if that. While in…fashionable…culture it is considered the best to be invited to such things, any politician who has a flicker of a dream of success does not attend King Anyon's engagements."
"Have we invitations?" Obi-Wan asked.
Mace shook his head. "No. But the Senator has also agreed to…train you…in etiquette that will assure you pass without any incident."
Anakin frowned. "Padmé is teaching us how to crash a party? And she learned to do this where?"
Yoda looked amused. "Pose the question, I did not. Better it not be addressed."
"Padmé has your assignments and is waiting for you in her private apartment. I suggest you go rest for a few hours before preparing, however. It is going to be a long night," Mace nodded, suggesting the briefing was over.
"May the Force be with you," Yoda said in closing.
The four bowed, and left.
"Shall we meet on the platform in say, three hours?" Obi-Wan asked as they headed back down the lift to the living quarters of the Temple.
Anakin nodded. "Sure."
"You heard Mace, Anakin. Rest. And you need it. I daresay no one would talk to you if you look like you do now. Tired and hungry."
Anakin wrinkled his nose in protest. "And you think you're the life of a party? What are you going to talk about, how to party by the manual?"
Ahsoka giggled and Rex smiled. Obi-Wan cleared his throat and raised his chin defiantly. "At least I have the courtesy to pass for a courtier. You're so rough around the edges we could sharpen blades on you."
Anakin laughed. "Hey, at least I'll be entertaining!" He and Obi-Wan turned towards the hall where their temporary quarters were set up. "Ahsoka, there should be some available rooms in your wing. Can you show Rex around?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, Master."
She and Rex turned and walked in the opposite direction. They walked in silence for a moment when Rex cleared his throat.
"I've never been in the Temple before. It's…huge."
Ahsoka smiled. "Yeah. Try being three and getting lost on your way to lunch. A little daunting…just a little."
Rex smiled back. "So, I'm assuming for the mission, the General's will be in charge of the talking. I wonder what I was brought along for." They stopped in front of two doors. Ahsoka checked a list on the wall.
"I know. I have a feeling Master Windu was uncomfortable with telling us the truth, and is letting Padmé break the news, whatever it is. Here, this room next to mine is free, actually. You can take it." She punched in a few numbers, and the door opened.
"Thank you, Commander…"
"Hey, we're going to a party together later tonight. I think that justifies dropping commander or kid. Just Ahsoka, ok?" She gave him shy smile.
He returned it. "Thank you, Ahsoka."