Disclaimer: Disney owns Star Wars, not me. All the characters and places (except for my OC Analise) belong to them.
"aaaa"-talking out loud. "aaaa" (bold and italics)-talking through a holo or com.'aaaaa'-inner thoughts. aaaaa-talking through a Bond. "aaaa" (bold)-talking in another language. ("aaa") (bold, italics, and parenthesis)-talking through a holo or com in another language.
AN: I'm on the Mack:) LOL
Yes I made it safely to Mackinac Island and yay the apartment I'm staying at has internet. So far everything is good. I'm actually living in an apartment that's part of like this little family compound because the owner lives in front, her niece lives in the house on the other side, and her sister lives across the little alley street. It's an old established island family so my parents and brother feel a lot better about me being here this year.
However it is cold! In fact while I was working on this during April 17th and 16th, we were under a winter storm warning! I could hear snowmobiles (the only private motor vehicle allowed to be owned by island residents) going up and down the streets (my dorm is actually just down the highway from the school). In fact the storm was so bad (it coated every place on the island in ice) that my boss called off work on the 16th! Extra time for writing and playing SWTOR (where I am proud to report that I have finished both Knigths of the Fallen Empire and Knights of the Eternal Throne with my Jedi Consular and it has given me ideas about doing a SWTOR fic one day):)
As for writing I should be able to stick to the original schedule right now. We're only getting the stores set up (there are two locations, one which has three separate stores). Once things get going I will have a better idea of working out my times to write because I will have a pretty much set schedule (I'm hoping I'm working in the mornings starting at 8 am and going into the afternoon). There still might be gaps in updates as the season picks up, so please be patient. I will only be here through October 8th which is the planned date for me to return home.
Thank you to Hope reigns on and Guest H for the reviews. Guest H if you've seen Clone Wars you'll know that this isn't the last time we've seen Boba so he will be back at least once more;)
Onto this week's chapter full of GIRL POWER! It's a reunion of friends as Satine, worried about what appears to be spreading corruption asks two of her biggest friends and supporters for a visit to Mandalore to see if they can see what she sees...
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-The challenge of hope is to overcome corruption- Corruption, Clone Wars Season Three
Chapter Thirty-Three: Even The Good Go Bad
Padme didn't need to look behind her to know that she would see shock and disbelief written all over her sister's face. She didn't need to look because she knew that same shock and disbelief was showing through the cracks of her normally perfect politician's mask.
Around them in pods were her fellow Senators and Representatives, most of whom were applauding or cheering or whatever acts of glee and happiness were most common to their species.
They were happy because the Senate had voted to uphold trade sanctions, penalties against the Council of Neutral Systems. Fifteen hundred systems that had elected not to get involved in the war for fear of what it could do to their own homes. Many of which were still recovering from their own smaller, but no less devastating wars.
A council that was led by none other than their good friend and supporter, Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore.
It was no surprise that the sanctions had come down the hardest on Mandalore. Satine had never kept it a secret that she had found the current administration of the Galactic Republic to be vile and corrupt, easily swayed by credits and not morals.
Mandalore needed help though. All the neutral systems needed help. What few trade routes that had been open were seeing little use as the machine of war drained the most vital of resources and sent them to other systems deemed more worthy by the government. Since Mandalore wasn't involved in the war, they had no pressing need for supplies, resources that other war-supporting planets did.
In that session a message had been shown. Satine had been pleading and that was a rare sight for even a pacifist Mandalorian did not plead. It went against their warrior blood even if they didn't believe in violence. She had pleaded for the Senate to allow more trade routes to be opened to Mandalore and the Neutral Systems. They simply weren't getting enough through the legal means which meant that a black market was now flourishing rather well on the planet which had prices rising fast and corruption fast growing and hard to keep track of.
More open trade routes meant more supplies could be gotten to them, the black market could ebb a bit, prices lower and become more stable. Maybe even the now rampant corruption could be pushed back. It meant that the Council of Neutral Systems could thrive, survive through the war.
There had hardly been any debate. Few voices out of thousands spoke up for the opening of new trade routes. Their well-thought out speeches and reasoning drowned out by the jeers and cries that those weak systems were getting no more than what they deserved. It served them right to be near starving. Some, colder and meaner than most had bellowed out that perhaps all trade routes with Mandalore and the Neutral Systems should be closed off. That would smarten them up right quick.
In the end the Chancellor had waved his hands graciously, shrugged and said that cutting off all trade would make the Republic no better than the Separatists. In that same vein though he could not open more trade routes as that would take away from their forces.
In one stroke the grandfatherly man cut off the Council of Neutral Systems. Leaving them to find ways to make it on their own.
Padme turned to leave her pod and looked to see the heartbroken face on Analise.
Their friend was in trouble and needed their help. But how?
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Good news seemed to take almost forever to reach her these days. Bad news seemed to reach her desk in the blink of an eye. Even from some place as far as Coruscant.
Satine wanted to burry her face in her arms and sob, but she was Mandalorian and the Duchess. She was stronger than that. She needed to be stronger than that. She had to be strong for her people, for the systems that trusted her to fight for their to be neutral.
It didn't feel like that long since she had been forced to travel to the seat of the Republic to fight for that right. To push back against those who wanted to draw more and more systems into the war. A fight she had just barely been able to win. One Satine knew she probably would have lost in the end had not she trusted in her friends.
Her friends...
Satine slowly sat up. She had always done her best to fight her own fights on her own. That was just who she was. But this fight...This fight was too big for her to fight on her own.
She needed help and she knew just who to ask.
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On the surface their mission was all on the level. An innocent diplomatic visit to Sundari after a very formal invitation had been extended from the ruler of Mandalore, Duchess Satine Kryze herself to her two close friends Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo and Jedi Knight Commander Analise Skywalker-Kenobi. The wording, vague and political had hinted at a veiled plea for her friends to come and help the Duchess convince the Senate to open more trade routes.
There was nothing at all in the invitation that alarmed any of the watchdogs who were quick to jump on even one random word that might hint at anti-Repubic feelings or agreeing with the Separatist and cry traitor.
What those hounds didn't see or hear was the hushed conversations between Senator and Knight Commander. The quickly made and executed plan. When crates and boxes were loaded onto Padme's J-type diplomatic barge they simply shrugged and assumed it was the many elaborate dresses and jewels and headdresses a Senator and former Queen of Naboo would wear during her visit with another planetary royal.
They shrugged whatever body part they used to shrug in whatever manner their species shrugged and moved onto to other targets.
There was no way that even as outspoken as she was and as kind as the other was that the pair would ever cross the Senate by giving Mandalore aid.
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This time there was more than one lone guide and a guard waiting to greet her guests. This time she was there at the landing pad in full royal regalia with her loyal guards lined up on either side as Padme's ship came in.
Here and not before her people could Satine let the worry show her on her face. Tensions were running high in Sundari as they were everywhere on Mandalore in the domed cities. People wanted supplies, they wanted to not feel hunger gnawing at their insides as one went further down the classes. They wanted to stop turning to the black market where goods were expensive and often not what was promised.
The black market was dangerous, but Satine's people were starting to become desperate. They were nearing their breaking point and as the ramp extended to let the passengers off, Satine wasn't sure how she would keep that breaking point from coming.
Not when it seemed her own officals were all too willing to turn a blind eye to the sufferings of the people so thaty could make some sort of profit.
This was war after all.
The Duchess did smile a little to see her friends' outfits. Shades of blue and white, though Analise's brow was furrowed as she tugged at the skirts of the gown that Padme had probably stuffed her in. On her last visit to Coruscant Satine had been amused to learn that Padme treated their dear Jedi friend as a sort of doll and was always sending her new outfits. Most of which did conform to the Jedi rules for modest dress, but many of which were kept in a closet in Padme's flat. Something that Analise's adopted Togruta sister had been all too-eager to show the Duchess and had called them "Analise's royal wear", a tongue-in-cheek reference to Analise's public nickname of Jedi Princess.
"Senator Amidala, Master Skywalker-Kenobi." The Duchess curtsied as did her guests. How all three of the women hated the formalities that forced them to behave as if this was any other diplomatic visit. Even at this private greeting, there were eyes watching that would talk.
"We are honored by your greeting Duchess and by your invitation to visit Mandalore."
"As I am honored by your acceptance." Satine gestured and lead the group away from the landing pad. "Word has reached me that many in the Senate have become somewhat upset by Mandalore's continued decision to remain neutral in the war and have decided to push back against that decision. But my people are tired of war and I cannot regret my choice..."
"No one in the Senate would dream of asking you to choose war over the welfare of your people," Padme cut in. Even as she spoke them though the words felt hollow and fake. Something she knew Satine could see. They were politician's words. Words that sounded as though they contained something, but were really empty of any sort of meaning. "If you have any concerns about trade, than we can sit down and talk them through." They had reached the royal Buirk'alor-class airspeeder and Padme slid into her seat first choosing to put Analise between her and Satine. It would not only show a powerful message about the new friendship between Jedi and Mandalore, but it would also allow the older women to share the younger. "There are many in the Senate who will never neglect Mandalore or forget her and her people. Many will stand with you and vote to give you the help you need."
"The FoJ stand with you," Analise whispered so softly it was bearly head by the Duchess. Satine smiled. "Some supplies are being offloaded even as we speak by trusted members of Padme's guard. I know it's not enough..."
"But every little bit helps." Satine patted the smaller, paler hand before sitting up and speaking more loudly for the benefit of the ears. "The help that Mandalore needs now is for the Senate to allow more trade routes to be opened up so that we can trade more freely for what we need."
"Don't give up Satine." Padme placed her hand over Satine's. "No matter what it looks like, we are making progress in the Senate. With just a little more time we should..." Satine shook her head.
"Please forgive me for interrupting Padme, but I did not bring either of you here to talk about politics. I was hoping that I would get the chance to show off my New Mandalore to you both." The Duchess smirked at Analise. "After all Analise did not see very much of it less time."
The speeder headed through the tunnel that connected the landing pad to the city as Padme laughed.
"When we got your invitation, Senator Organa did tease us about the traditional Mandalore welcome with all the royal court. But I see no royal court in sight, but there is more than just a guard as there was when Analise and Obi-Wan came that first time."
"Mainly because of Obi-Wan." Analise pretended to sigh. "My poor husband the flirt who doesn't know he is a flirt and breaks the heart of many who cross his path without meaning to." A rude, flat beep issued forth from the pink and sliver astromech that Satine had quickly learned was more Analise's bodyguard than anything else and had been accidentally programmed to hate men.
Satine laughed, truly laughed and the other women joined in. "Can you blame me? I wanted my two sisters-in-arms all to myself before forcing you to face the hounds." The laughter rang again as the speeder raced into the bright daylight of Sundari where the Duchess and her guests were greeted with joyous shouts and thunderous applause.
Confetti rang down from the top of towering buildings as citizens pushed each other good naturedly for a chance to see the guests. Children wiggled around those taller to see and cheer for the great Jedi Princess whose adventures were holo-net legends. She was a hero who they trooped along with in their games even if they were peaceful now and did not war. The adults cheered for all three riders in the speeder equally for they knew more than just the legends.
Padme and Satine were amused to see that Analise still blushed bright red when put into a spotlight. "You would think that you would be used to this by now," Padme gently teased her secret sister as she nudged her than raised a hand to wave like Satine.
"A Jedi does not seek fame or recognition," Analise bit back at the Senator with no real feeling as she waved her hand and smiled at a small little girl who tugged on her mother's tunic and began to crow about how the Jedi Princess had waved and smiled at her. "This is the Mandalorian welcome Bail warned us about." Katee's domed head whirled about, clearly unhappy about the all people, the unseen threats against her Mistress.
"We are Mandalore and we are a people of tradition. Would you expect anything less?"
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It wasn't a private landing pad where he set his Shekelesh-class freight gunship down, but Tee Va didn't really care. Private landing pads might be more secure, but more questions would be asked and questions were never a good thing when one was a smuggled like he was.
The Moogan followed his men down the ramp. His yellow eyes scanned the dock. Today was either his lucky day or his unlucky day. There was nobody there. His heckles went up, but Va smoothed them down.
This was a gift and he couldn't afford to turn such a gift down. Not with the credits he and his crew stood to make if this deal went through without a hitch.
"Hurry it up then!" he barked and waved a green-skinned arm back at the babbling Gotal that served more as heavy-lifters than anything else. "Get that blasted tea offloaded and be quick."
"Hey boss!" One of his loyal men, a Moogan of course for Va would have none other as part of his inner circle was frowning he pointed to a human male getting closer and closer. "Looks like the custom official's coming round." Va nodded than rose to his full height which was rather impressive for a Moogan than adjusted his gold headdress with the long purple fabric denoting his high rank.
Although it galled him, Va bowed to the human. "An honor my good sir. It is a rather fine day on Mandalore yes?" The man's eyes narrowed at the towering figure and Va's hope that his height would be off-putting to the smaller human male was dashed. 'Cursed Mandalores! Always full of more guts than sense-able humans!'
"Yes it is a rather nice day and I would hate for anything to happen that would ruin it." Va tilted his head. There was something hidden in the official's voice that he couldn't make out. He shook his head and spread his arms wide in a show of confusion.
"I'm not sure what you mean sir..." The official rolled his eyes and made a show of checking the datapad in his hand before pointdly tapping the screen.
"Look let's not pretend to not as smart as we really are. I know you know what I mean. I have here in my hands today's schedule and you my friend are not on it. So in that case I would like to know just what is being unloaded on my docks." The official placed his left fist on his hip, eyebrow raised.
Va gave an internal sigh as he reached into the pouch where he kept his credit ingots and pulled out a handful. It was always painful to part with credits, but he would recoup what he lost in this bribe. "I am sure it was just a clerical error sir." He dropped the credits into the hand the official held out. The man shook his hand, making the ingots jump as he counted them before slipping them into a pocket.
"Well to make sure such errors don't happen in the future be sure that you and your crew deal directly with me." The man held his datapad back up and tapped at the screen, no doubt shifting things around to hid the unscheduled arrival.
"Of course sir," Va sighed again knowing that he would be handing over more bribes to the man. It wouldn't have been worth it normally, but this racket was just too good a business opportunity to pass up.
"You got lucky today my friend. Normally I've got five times as many guys wandering around here." The official waved a hand to indicate the empty docks. "But a couple of big-shots are visiting so they're all at this silly parade." The official rolled his eyes. It was clear he did not think much of the parade or whoever the big-shots were that were visiting.
Va chuckled. "I've never been one to belive in luck sir." At least that was one thing the Jedi got right.
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"My esteemed colleagues, fellow leaders of Mandalore, and my dear friends." The Prime Minister humbly bowed his head and Analise did her best not to snort. She hadn't liked the man upon her first meeting of him and she still didn't like the man. Padme gently nudged her and shook her head. The Senator didn't much care for the Prime Minister either. "It is my sad duty to inform you that Mandalore's continue neutrality in this war has led to widespread suffering of the people. As this war between the Republic and Separatists rages on, trade routes that once provided vital ways of getting supplies and resources too and from Mandalore have closed. As the Republic has refused to open up new routes for our use, the people have been forced to turn to the corrupt black market..."
"Oh do shut up Almec!" snapped Minister of the Interior, a man named Armatan, He glared at Almec. "We all know what's going out outside those doors. You don't have to bloody remind us." Padme glanced over at Analise who had shifted slightly in her spot on the step just below Padme who stood next to Satine on her throne. She saw the Jedi's eyes take on that hazy, dreamy cast that she had learned meant that Analise was using her special gift to read the auras, the moods of people. It was a helpful tool in these situations, though it meant Analise would most likely have a headache later depending on deep she read. "What those of us gathered here want to know is what is going to be done to fix this problem!"
The woman seated next to Armatan, who had been introduced to them as the Minister of Finance shook her head. "The answer is clear. We should not be needed to use smugglers to feed, cloth, and bring our people medicine. Mandalore should not be paying smugglers to keep her people alive!" Armatan leapt from his chair and turned on the woman.
"It doesn't matter whether or not we want to do it woman! It is a question of need." He sneered at her before jabbing a finger in her face. "Besides what do you care if we use smugglers or legal means. You work with the cursed Trade Federation. I'm sure both of you make a profit no matter what is used!" The Minister of Finance's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in anger. She jumped from her chair and slapped Armatan's finger away.
"How dare you accuse me of such dealings? I resent that!" Almec, deciding to try and do his job as Prime Minister stepped into the middle. But the two Ministers were too busy shouting and hurling insults back and forth that his pleas for calm and quiet fell on deaf ears.
"I do feel sorry for the Prime Minister," Padme whispered to Satine as she leaned over the arm of the throne so that she couldn't be heard. "With everything that is happening he must be overwhelemed." Satine smiled. She knew just how bad her Ministers and her Ruling Council could be.
"Well Padme if you willing to volunteer as our new negoitator than please be my guest." The Senator's brow furrowed as she thought for a moment.
"I'll do it." The pair of heads snapped to Analise who has snapped free from her trance. "I'm no Obi-Wan, but I'll do my best. Maybe a new voice is exactly what they need to hear right now." She smiled a little. "Besides Mandalore has to get use to Jetii again doesn't she?" From the looks on Satine and Padme's faces it was clear that they weren't happy about her going before the council, but they nodded. "If I might be permitted to speak before the Ruling Council?" Though soft her voice carried.
Almec stared at her as though he could not understand why a visitor, let alone a Jedi would wish to speak at the meeting. The history between them was not good. She looked back at Satine who nodded and Padme who smiled. The Prime Minister sighed and nodded, gesturing with a sweeping hand for Analise to take his place. "By all means Master Jedi. If you have something to say that could help us than we wish to hear it." His tone suggested the opposite in fact.
Out of the corner of her eye Satine watched as panel popped open on Analise's droid Katee. She thought she saw something sparking, but the panel was quickly closed as Padme laid a hand on the domed head and whispered "Hush Katee. No sparking the politicians...At least not right now." The Duchess shook her head slightly and wondered if she could have such a droid found for herself.
It would certianly make council meetins more fun.
"Listen I can hear your worries and you frustration. It is the same worry and frustration I hear no matter if I am in the Senate or the Temple or even out in the field." She took a deep breath. She could feel them staring at her and even sense the faint hatred that still lingered after so many generations. Analise closed her eyes for a moment before pushing on. "I'm not a politician nor even a leader, but I can tell you right here and now that sitting and arguing over what to do isn't going to fix anything. In fact it could just make things worse for the people of Mandalore." All the council sat up straighter. They hadn't liked that at all, but Analise knew the truth had to be let out. "I might not know much, but I do know how important trade routes are and I know that new ones can help Mandalore. Above all the black market must be avoided in favor of clear and legal trade."
"And just how do you propose we go about this plan of avoiding the black market?"
"Senator Amidala is here and she is more than willing to talk to the Republic on your behalf. It could provide secruity and..."
"Stop there!" Armatan sprung to his feet again as he glared at the smaller woman. "You want us to place our trust in a government whose own use of the black market far exceeds Mandalore's?" For once the Minister of Finance nodded, agreeing with her sometime foe.
"I agree totally." She sneered at the Jedi. "Who do you think you are Jetii to come here and tell us how things ought to be done? You're nothing more than a slave to hypocritical and corrupt government." She jabbed a finger at Padme. "You even came here with a member of the Senate!"
As one the council erupted into debate, into fighting, into pure insults. Analise opened her mouth, than closed it tightly and squeezed her hands together. She had said she was no Obi-Wan. She wasn't even Padme.
Padme watched Satine from the corner of her eye. The older woman was angry, fists clenching on the arms of her throne as she watched the figure of her small little friend being torn apart by her own council. The Senator jumped as Satine slapped her hands on the arms and jumped to her feet.
"Silence! That is enough!" The Ruling Council fell into quiet and fell into their seats. Analise turned to Satine, a helpless look on her face. "I told bother Senator Amidala and Jedi Commander Skywalker-Kenobi that they would not find war here on Mandalore." Her ice-blue eyes pierced through the members of her ruling council. "What must they think of my words now to find a battle here among those trusted by myself and my people to help lead Mandalore?" The Duchess sighed as her anger began to drain away. "This meeting is hereby adjourned. We will wait for tempers to cool and for cooler heads to prevail before meeting again."
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When the doors to the warehouse where he had set up this little racket slide open, Va wasn't worried. He had over more bribe money to two of the men strolling around the district, yawning out of boredom as they went about their guard duty to stand outside the doors. Mandalore was so peaceful now that other then those employed in the Royal Guards that other lesser guards rarely saw action.
Turning the Moogan snarled at the pair of Gotal struggling to roll a heavy barrel into the warehouse. "Move it you poodoo!" His foot stamped heavily upon the floor, marking his displeasure. "Get that barrel in here and get it in fast!" Va had paid out a small fortune in bribes so far, but that as always meant nothing. Bribes were flimsy things and the one with the most credits almost always won in the end.
That or a good blaster held up to the head was usually all it took for the wrong person to break down and blab about everything. The last thing Va wanted was to face Mandalorian justice. Just because the planet was peaceful now didn't mean that they had left behind all the ways of the warrior including the non-lethal punishments that could be worse than death.
The scientist they had hired after receiving glowing recommendations from fellow shady businessmen raised an arch eyebrow as he stared at the barrel. "And just," he questioned in one of the loftiest tones that Va had ever heard in his life, "What is that stuff your men are rolling over to me?"
"It's just slabin," Va shrugged. "We mix it with the tea and use it as a diluting agent. That way we can make twice as much tea and therefore make a bigger profit." And that profit would not only cover the cost of the tea and slabin, but also go far in helping Va make back the credits he spent on bribes.
For the first time since their meeting and the scientist accepting the very large payment, the human male looked worried and concerned. The eyebrow had fallen and he stared at the slabin as if it were suddenly a creature that would leap up and gobble him down in one giant bite. "You want to mix the slabin in with the tea? But it can be toxic and we're selling this to..."
"Quiet!" Va hissed and sliced a hand through the air. His yellow eyes narrowed at the man. "Slabin isn't toxic when used properly. That's why you're here old man with your crew." Another hand waved towards a second human, a female standing off to one side clutching a datapad and ignoring everything around her. "You're the one whose going to be mixing the batches. If you're so worried about the slabin being toxic. Then I recommend that you make sure to get your dosage right."
Va watched as the scientist gulped before turning to the large control panel to begin the process of churning out dozens and dozens and dozens of bottles of the newest popular tea on Mandalore.
Only when he saw the slabin going in did the smuggler allow himself to relax and smile.
Oh yes...He was going to make a very nice profit when all this was said and done.
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"This is so nice..." Satine sighed into a pillow as she lounged across the couch, her feet laying across Padme's lap. Gone was the stately, dignified Duchess of the day and in her place was a restful, laid-back noble woman taking the moment to relax and let go of her worries and cares. Her friend giggled and tickled the feet across her lap.
"And this time we don't have to worry about any spies," piped up a soft voice from her place on the floor by the couch. She was perched on a nest of pillows and nibbling on food taken from the far-too full plate that had be shoved upon her by her well-meaning friends. The private living area rang with laughter as all three women remembered their attempted GNO which had been rudely interrupted by a Jedi Master, a Jedi Knight, and a Clone Captain.
This time all three men were safely off planet and even if they were on planet...Well the protectors would take care of them.
Satine sighed and shifted, sitting up on the couch as she sipped from a glass of wine. "This is nice," she repeated herself only this time her voice was tinged with regret that she would have to ruin it. "But I fear I must ruin it to talk of politics." After the failed meeting with the council, the women had all silently agreed not to speak of politics. They needed to decompress, to get their thoughts together. "I've been meaning to ask both of you how you feel about the war so far?"
"You know the propaganda machine for the war is pretty much controlled by the Chancellor." Padme traced the rim of her own wine glass with her finger. "He's always going out there or having someone else go out there and tell the people they don't need to worry. That the war is going well and we're winning. That it is only a matter of time of before we have won and ended the Separatist threat, reuniting the galaxy..." The Senator shook her head. "But as a member of the FoJ and with the sources I have, I know it is a far different story."
"But I guess I understand it on a certain level..." Duchess and former Queen turned to the Jedi Commander who disliked her military title with a passion. She sat, cross-legged now upon her pillow nest and playing with the end of her braid. "During war you want to keep spirits up and hearing about victories, about daring heroics on the battlefield is more uplifting than hearing about defeats and losses." Analise's shoulders drooped a little. "But that doesn't mean I like it. War is a horrible thing and as a Jedi I loathe the thought of killing when I don't need to, at the meaningless loss of life."
The older woman both winced and Satine reached out to lightly stroke her friend's hair. It was easy to forget sometimes just how strong Analise was in the Living Force. She felt things so keenly, felt so death so keenly. Espcially the deaths of those she knew, was close to. More so than her or Padme, the war was taking its toll on the sweet Jedi Knight.
"And you Padme?"
"I am tired of the war, of the endless fighting among not just the two sides, but within the Senate itself." She poked at her own plate of food resting on the arm of the couch. "Sometimes I wish Naboo would follow Mandalore's lead and take up neutrality and not just in terms of the war...But that will never happen. Not when it is the home planet of our current Chancellor."
"You would be neutral in politics as well. A lofty goal because of corruption." Satine sipped her wine again before spearing a veggie onto her fork and popping it into her mouth.
"Satine's right Padme. There will always be corruption reaching its sticky little fingers into every part of government no matter if that government is neutral or not. The Ruling Council...They all have some levels of corruption. Some of it goes deeper than others and..." The Knight shook her head. "Too many politicians are more interested in serving their own interests. In working with the guilds and federations to line their own pockets and come out on top instead of taking care of those who need it..."
Satine pounced, carefully setting her plate and glass to one side, but she still pounced on Analise in a hug. Her young friend had indeed come down with a headache and of course the Duchess worried that it lingered even though Analise had told her it didn't. It would most certainly come back in they kept marching down the current line of thought.
"Enough of this talk!" Satine waved a regal hand through the air as if she were giving a royal command and just maybe she was. "We have ruined the mood enough and I mean to retake it. Tonight we shall stuff ourselves and gossip about things we have no real interest in and have nothing to do with politics." Padme and Analise giggled at Satine's silliness. "Tomorrow I will show you both some of the good that is happening on Mandalore. A new hospital has just opened up and I wish to show it to you. the head doctor was more excitied when I mentioned you would be visiting Analise and had some training as a Jedi Healer. He would like to talk to you about some healing techniques he think might help the staff."
"That sounds lovely Satine."
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It truly was an impressive sight as their shuttle flew them down to the new state of the art hospital. A gleaming and towering white structure with a large landing pad for emergency shuttles. Analise was deeply impressed and though she wondered what she could offer the doctors, was looking forward to speaking with them.
She did take note of the high volume of shuttles taking off and landing. 'Very much in a hurry,' she thought as each stayed just long enough to be offloaded before speeding up and away from the hospital. She was suddenly aware of naked she felt without her lightsaber, left aboard Padme's ship at the request of the government. A recent regulation that banned off-world weapons from Mandalore and passed after Obi-Wan's actions on Concordia.
'I have a bad feeling about this.' She joined Padme and Satine, flanked by a pair of Protectors as the landing ramp moved them gently to the ground.
Her bad feeling had been right.
Nurses, doctors, orderlies, adults all swarmed over the landing pad. Children crying and moaning were being ushered into the hospital. Some were able to walk with help, others were carried in arms or on stretchers. Some had adults rushing alongside them, demanding answers and babbling words of comfort.
Analise could sense the illness, the pain as all the children seemed to clutch at their stomachs and give big heaving gasps. Some choked and she wondered what it was that their bodies were trying to reject but could not seemingly get out of their systems.
Beside her Padme and Satine were in shock staring as the crisis unfolded before them. Analise could not bear to wait another moment. She ran up to the nearest orderly clad in white as if to match the suddenly not so gleaming structure. "What is happening here? What is wrong with all these children?" The orderly was so frazzled he didn't stop to wonder about just who was questioning him. Then again he had probably been asked that question so many times that he didn't even care anymore.
"I've haven't got the fainest idea ma'am." Even as he and a nurse rushed to get the streched carrying a child wiggling in pain inside he was still polite. "You'll have to talk to Dr. Zaz. He's the one taking care of this outbreak. He should be inside somewhere..." That was all she got as the orderly and nurse dashed up the stairs and inside.
A gentle hand gripped her elbow and Analise turned to see Satine. "I know Dr. Zaz. Come...I want to know what is happening too."
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"Just what is happening here?" Dr. Zaz turned, an almost helpless look on his face. They had found the older man in a ward filled with nothing but children stretched out on the beds in pain. The corridors had been full of them and all the workers, all the parents had been trying to keep them calm, give them something to take that pain away.
"My apologies Duchess," the doctor bowed his head slightly. "I had thought word had been sent to you...That someone had gone to let you know..." He shook his head. "Well you're here now." Analise slipped to the bedside of the boy Zaz had been attending and reaching out began to stroke his back. The doctor watched as with each light stroke, the boy calmed and his pain eased as the Jedi poured what healing she could into him.
"Be careful Analise," Padme scolded. She was worried about the children, but she also knew what Analise could and would do to help them.
"This is Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo and Jedi Knight Commander Analise Skywalker-Kenobi. Please tell me what is going on?"
"A pleasure ladies." Zaz glanced down at his datapad, looking and feeling older than what he was. "After exmining as many of the children as we can so far we have discovered the children have all been poisioned."
"Poisoned?" All three of the women looked at the doctor in shock. "How...How is that possible?" Satine struggled to stay calm and regal, to be the Duchess and not just a woman suddenly facing a crisis she wasn't prepared for. Zaz shook his head.
"Sadly that is one thing we have not been able to discover, but we do know that it is not just this hospital that is getting this cases in by the speeder." He tapped at his datapad. "Even now I am getting reports from other hospitals across Sundari, from across the planet in fact of children being admitted into hospitals at an alarming rate. All with the same symptoms as these children."
"And you haven't been able to identify a cause yet?"
"No, as I have said we haven't. In fact the only thing we have discovered is that this children here all came from the same school. Knowing that we are making arrangements to have their food tested to see if that will help determine the cause and once we have that then perhaps we can make an antidote." He sighed. "I don't have to tell you though that it can take some time for the cause and any antidote to be found and created."
"Time which this children may not have much of...If any."
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"Are you sure it's poison?" It was all Padme and Satine could do not to lunge across the desk and slug Almec in the nose. Analise was finding it hard herself not to give him a good kick. The type of kick she had told Ahsoka to only use on a male in a dire emergency. The Prime Minister did not seem overly concerned that all over Mandalore children were being admitted into hospitals that were being pushed to the brink as new poison victims were brought to them every few minutes. "I don't believe that this is poison. It's more likely Death Watch."
"And I don't believe that this is the work of Death Watch," Satine snapped just barely hanging onto her temper. "What do those terrorists have to gain by attacking our children? They want to bring down myself and the government. Not the people. That has always been the focus of their attacks. They would not change that now."
"But as you said they are terrorists." Almec leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face as he stared at Padme and Analise who stood just behind them. The Jedi narrowed her eyes. She wouldn't sink in to read his aura, not when her abilities were needed elsewhere. But she didn't need them to know when a sleemo was a sleemo. "Perhaps a visit your friends, a Republic Senator and a Jedi have inspired them to think outside their normal box."
A little bit of Satine's hold on her temper snapped and she slapped a hand down on the desk. "Terrorists? Terrorists! You wish to sit here and talk about terrorists when the children of Mandalore are dying in the street as we talk!" She narrowed her eyes at Almec. "I want to know what you plan on doing to help those poor children and figuring out the cause of this attack."
Almec stood, pushing himself away from his desk. "In the matter of the children I must speak to the Ruling Council before making any decisions. Please excuse."
He had barely walked away before the woman looked at at each other. "I refuse to believe that Death Watch has any part in this."
"And I agree Satine. I didn't need to read him to know that he doesn't care about the children at all."
"No...Just his precious politics."
"Well we need to do something." Padme frowned at the chair where the Prime Minister had sat. "I mean we're not just going to sit back and let him flounder his way through this are we."
"No! We are not!"
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"First off I want to thank you all for coming. I know that all of you must be asking just why I called for this meeting. Well I have need of your help to look into the poisoning of the children of Mandalore. As my most loyal and most trusted Protectors, I know I can count on all of you to help me, help us discover the truth of what is going on." The Duchess turned and nodded. "Padme has the instructions."
Analise stood back and watched with a smirk on her face, arms crossed. The smugglers, the Ruling Council, the Prime Minister would be shocked if they could see Satine here, playing the warrior part she cried out that she couldn't, wouldn't do. It was all an act. Sure they might have gotten glimpses of Satine's temper, her anger; but they might never have seen her like this. A true Commander more than willing to lead troops into battle.
But her type of battle.
Her sister stepped forward and nodding to a handmaid who held a tray containing special coms to out to the Protectors so that they could each take one. "What is being handing out right now are special coms to help keep you in direct contact with others involved in the investigation. You'll also be getting a datapad which will contain information about the investigation including locations that we would like to be checked out to see if there has been any involvement from that end."
It was then Analise stepped forward. "It goes without saying that we need to make sure that this investigation is a closed-loop affair. Hundreds of children have been poisoned so far and there are more reports coming in of more children being struck down by the same poison."
"These are the children of Mandalore, our children! I refuse to sit back and watch them suffer when we can be out there solving this. This is an affair of Mandalore and Mandalore will solve it with the help of our friends." Satine nodded. "You are dismissed and thank you all."
The Protectors filed out of the throne room and Satine felt her shoulders drop a little in relief once she no longer had to wear the mask of an unbeatable fighter. Arms wrapped around her in a hug and she smiled at the shorter Analise who even though she was an adult still believed that a hug could help. "Where are you and Padme going?"
That got a raised eyebrow. "The plan is to visit the school since all this started there. Are you not coming with us?" Analise shook her head.
"No...I'm returning to the hospital to offer what help I can. If you find anything I'll met up with you, but right now I can be more useful as a Healer than investigator." The eyebrow lowered and instead Satine frowned.
"Just don't go too far in your healing Analise." That got a startled look and Satine smirked. "Oh yes...Obi told me about your bad habit of going too far, doing too much when you don't have an anchor. In fact I'm sending a Protector with you to make sure you don't do too much and Katee of course..."
Analise threw up her hands in mock anger which made Satine and Padme laugh.
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The school's mess was a buzz of activity as Padme and Satine strolled in with the school's superintendent. The schools on Mandalore, even the primary schools were highly structured in their classes and lessons. During meal times and breaks though the children were to be as loud as they wanted and to play as they wished when in the proper areas to do so.
"Thank you so much for allowing us to inspect the schools superintendent." Satine spoke just loud enough to be heard over the chatter of the children. She winced as she heard more than one talking about their missing classmates, suddenly taking ill by something and just what that meant.
"It was no trouble at all Duchess and really the pleasure should be all mine." Padme covered a snort. The superintendent was a class one brown-noser. She wouldn't have been surprised if the man had started bowing and scraping at some point so humble and honored was he that the Duchess and such a high-ranking, well-known and beloved Senator who was also a former Queen to boot had paid a visit to his school. Naturally he wished that the circumstances were better, but still it was such an honor and so on and so forth.
Padme could probably plug her ears up so she wouldn't hear a sound and still be able to perfectly understand what the superintendent was saying just by watching and guessing what words his mouth was forming. She might actually try it sometime during one of the more boring committee meetings she got stuck with.
"Ahh Duchess, Senator there you. We've checked the food here and it's been cleared. No poison in anything that's being served today." Padme's brow furrowed as her mind processed Dr. Zaz's words than turned to gaze at the children who were unaware of exactly just how serious their friends' illness were.
"Could it have been the food that was served yesterday doctor?" The man considered this, then shook his head.
"No I don't think so. I was supplied a menu and the food the children are served remains pretty regular no matter what day it is. There are a few variations here and there, but for the most part it is the same." He rubbed at his chin and shook his head. "No it can't be the food otherwise it would have been caught by our tests and shown up as tainted."
"Could it be something in their drinks then doctor?"
"I don't think so Duchess. The school only serves them fresh spring water which is impossible to be tainted."
"Not the water doctor." Satine pointed to not a glass, but a bottle slapped with a green and white label. "I was talking about those bottled drinks some of the children are drinking." Now it was the doctor whose brow furrowed.
"That's tea, but it's not part of the school's menu..." His brow unfurrowed and his eyes widen. "Their sold by an outside vendor that the school has a contract with as an alternative to the water the school offers!" A boy walked past them carrying his tray upon which was one of the bottles of tea. Dr. Zaz didn't waste a moment. He reached out and swiped the bottle of tea off the tray and the boy stared at him in shock. "Forgive me young man, but I need to barrow your drink for a moment. Go back up to the counter and ask for some water. There's a good lad."
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Both Padme and Satine were pleased to see that Analise wasn't too pale when she joined up with them at Dr. Zaz's lab. It was easy enough to do because they were in the hospital. The Jedi eyed the superintendent, giving the man a wide berth as she and Katee went to help the doctor with his tests.
Satine watched for a moment, but she could feel her resolve, her strength start to crumble the more she thought about it. The Death Watch attacks had been one thing, but this...This was an attack on the youngest, the most innocent of her people and her government seemed unwilling to do anything about it. In fact they seemed more than content just to sit back and debate what they could and should be doing rather than just doing it.
An arm came to rest on her shoulder and she let her guard down for just a moment. "Oh Padme...How could I have let anything like this happen? How could I have let the children become involved like this?"
"Satine you have to believe me when I say that none of this is your fault."
"Thank you Padme, but I am afraid that I have to face a hard truth." Satine stared off into the distance. "For an outbreak like this to have even have the opportunity to take place..." The Duchess shook her head slowly. "It could only mean that the corruption I have been trying to fight is far greater and goes far deeper than I could ever have imagined it."
"Satine, Padme we found something!" The Duchess and Senator turned at the Jedi's call and hurried back over to her. Satine took Analise's place, leaning over the Dr. Zaz's shoulder to better see the read-out on the smaller screen of his flip-top datapad.
"See here? The readings show that this tea contains rather high levels of the agent known as slabin."
"But everything I've read, that I know indicates that slabin isn't toxic."
"It's not normally Satine, but the slabin has been mixed with with the tea and it's a high concentration at that." Analise shook her head. "Both Dr. Zaz and I agree that this is the cause of the children's poisioning. If the dosage isn't just right than slabin can make you sick and in the very worst case it can kill you." Padme drew back, slightly alarmed.
"Those poor children...If the tea is from an outside vendor than the school must have a record of some kind." She turned to the superintendent who had suddenly gone pale. 'Probably with worry for the children,' Padme thought. "The school does keep an import log correct?"
"Well...Yes...Yes it does Senator," the man stammered as he began to wring his hands. Under the watchful gaze of those present he began to sweat but didn't stop wringing his hands to wipe it away. "I am most certain the school does have an import log."
"Than everything we need to find out just where the tea came from would be there."
"We haven't a moment to loose. We need to get to the docks!"
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"The superintendent was right Satine." Padme and the Duchess leaned over the console which held a detail list of everything that had been sent to the school from the docks. "Every last thing the school ordered or received is right here." Satine shook her head and pulled away slowly.
"Not everything is here Padme. There is no mention of the school getting any tea shipments at all," she pointed out the missing item. The cause of the widespread poisoning. At least Dr. Zaz and Analise had assured her that now they had the cause, they would be able to create an antidote fairly quickly.
Analise wiggled her way in between the older women, staring at the screen. "I don't mean to alarm anyone, but I believe these records have been tampered with. Not only is there no mention of any tea shipments, there's not even one word about any possible outside vendor." She looked up, feeling fear in the force. "Superintendent, where do you think you are going?"
The man had been slowly edging away from the small group, but at Analise's call he had walked faster, as fast as he could without looking as though he had something to hide. 'Which is just silly,' Analise mused. It only made him look even more guilty than he probably already was without any doubt.
"Stop right there superintendent!" Satine's tone booked no argument, no debate and if the superintendent wanted any chance to stay on her good side he would listen and stop where he stood.
But he was at heart a minor politicians and for the most part minor politicians were never very bright. "P-p-please Duchess," the man who was sweating even more now stammered. "You must excuse m-m-m-me. I thought I would p-p-pop over to the hospital and visit the children." He ducked under the side railing of a hover taxi and powered it up.
"Not a chance!" Analise reached out with the Force as the man took off and wrapped it around the taxi, slowing it down. She certainly couldn't do it with larger craft, but it was no problem with a smaller one.
"Guards!" Satine called out once she saw what Analise had done. "Stop him at once!" Analise waited until the taxi carrying the two Protectors had slide in front of the superintendent's taxi before releasing her grip slightly and letting the first taxi crash into the second. The superintendent flipped over the railing and thankfully landed on the taxi.
The Protectors wasted no time. They hopped from their own craft, grabbed the superintendent by his upper arms and dragged the man over to stand before the three women and the doctor. Katee, ever her Mistress' shadow rolled forward, a taser sparking in threat. This time no one told her to put it away.
"Now superintendent..." Satine glared at the man and crossed her arms. The Senator and the Jedi were pretty sure that the man's legs were shaking. Here was the Duchess of Mandalore in all her warrior glory. "I demand that you tell just what exactly is going on here. If you don't tell me you will tell my guards and they are going to be as conversational about it as I am."
Padme stared at her friend in shock. That sounded a like a threat of violence against the superintendent and not at all like her peaceful friend. "Satine!" A hand grabbed her elbow and turning she saw Analise shaking her head.
"Let Satine handle this Padme. We are on Mandalore and she is Mandalore." Satine shot the younger woman a grateful look. The title was an old way, rarely used now from the bloodiest days of Mandalore's past when war had forced her people to become little more than roaming bands of bounty hunters traveling far from their home. Analise used it often though for her at moments like this and Satine was always grateful. Being called Mandalore gave her the strength to do what was hardest and always reminded her that no matter her views, she was still a Mandalorian and a warrior at heart.
"Now tell me superintendent...Where did you get the tea?" The man sighed, shaking his head. It was all over for him and he knew it.
"Before I tell you, I must make you understand that it was never my intention to harm anyone especially the children. I was actually trying to help them, but I needed somewhere to cut costs. There's never enough funds and..."
"Cut costs?" Satine stared at him in shock. "Why would you need to cut costs? The school is always given more than enough funds from the government to operate and educate the children."
The man sighed again. "Fine...They offered to pay me a good deal of money. Enough that I would even be able to keep some for myself. But I never though the drinks they would give me for the children would be poisioned."
"So you did this, all this just because you wanted some extra money? You're telling us that the children in the hospitals are there because you were greedy?" Analise kept a firm grip on her sister's arm. She and Satine weren't the only ones with tempers after all.
"Look, I know there is no way I can possibly defend myself, but I wasn't the only one making some extra off this whole thing." The superintendent waved a hand through the air dismissively as if that would somehow make his part seem lesser than what it was. "There are a few people making a profit from this whole. A bigger profit than myself in fact. They're the really guilty ones in this whole thing."
Satine leaned forward. "So was Death Watch involved in any of this?" The superintendent leaned back and Analise could seen, sense his confusion.
"That bunch of terrorists? I don't think so...Look all my dealings were with a middle-man. This importer named Siddiq. He's got an office here at the docks, not too far away." The man leaned back further under the fiery glares of Duchess and Senator.
"Tell us just where this office is exactly."
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It was just Padme and Satine who went to see Siddiq. Analise and the doctor had returned to the hospital to help with the antidote. Katee had rolled along with them, beeping rather unhappily about being away from all the action.
To be honest, Padme was glad. Siddiq was just the kind of person who push her sister's buttons a little too much.
The man was scruffy, slightly unkempt. He leaned back in his chair, booted feet on the desk, and looking he could care a great deal less than he already was that a former Queen turned Senator and the ruler of his planet had come stamping into his office flanked by two of the best warriors on said planet.
"Sure, sure I bribed the school official." He was also a man who didn't seem to care that by confessing his crime it didn't make him any less guilty. In fact Padme thought he sounded even slightly proud of the fact about just what he had done. "I don't see what the big deal is. Bribery's always been around. It's just now it's more popular these days."
"The problem," Padme began as she slapped her hands down on the dirty and somewhat sticky desk. "The problem is that what you've done is illegal! Not only that but children..."
"Are sick and in the hospital. Big deal." Siddiq waved a hand through the air. "There are children out there winding up in hospitals. Or have you forgotten about the war?" He smirked. "As long as that war is going on out there, then people don't care what shady dealings go on so long as I keep importing and they get what they need."
"In case you haven't noticed Mr. Siddiq," Satine's disgust rolled off her tongue as she gave the man a respectful title the Senator was sure he didn't deserve, "We are not most people."
"Look Duchess the corporate contracts I've got in my back pocket will keep me safe, but I'm just the messenger and I've got nothing to hide. I am truly sorry about the sick children..."
"Just tell us where you got the tea!" Satine wanted to rub her forehead and wondered if her headache was like the ones Obi-Wan or Analise got when they were dealing with low-lifes. The importer shrugged and swung his legs down from the desk as he grabbed his flip-top datapad and tapped in a few commands.
"Mooga. I get the tea from Mooga and the Commerce Guild controls that." He turned the pad around and pointed out something he highlighted in his files. "Look I highlighted all the shipping schedules for Mooga."
"But don't customs officals have to report to these to the government?"
"Yeah and they do as far as I know."
"But are these all the ones for the tea?" Satine pressed and Siddiq rubbed the back of his head.
"Nope. I'd have to narrow the list down further to find that and..." Both women glared and he shrugged. "I could do that no problem okay okay..." He turned the pad back to him and entered a few more commands. "Well then what do you know?" He turned it back to face the woman. "There's a shipment coming in tonight. Shall I tell you which dock?" All he got was a nod.
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"You know Satine, this isn't exactly what I pictured us doing when we planned this visit?" Satine chuckled as she and Padme crept through a maze of crates, boxes, and various other containers with one lone guard in front of them.
"But I would have thought you would be use to such excursions. From Obi told me you did plenty of them while Queen and have partaken in plenty more since becoming a Senator." Padme laughed softly.
"You know how it is Satine. Be it Naboo or Mandalore, one can only survive the rigors of courtly formalities and traditions for so long."
"True, true." The guard in front of them held up a hand for the women to stop as they reached the end of the maze path. They could hear the sound of a ship's engines, the clanking of landing gear.
Peering around they could make out in the dim light the shadowy form of a Moogan cargo ship as it touched down. The ramp lowered. "Duchess," the guard with them spoke up. "It appears Siddiq was right. That is a shipment."
"Then it must be the smugglers."
"We'll know soon Satine." The Gortel were wasting no time in unloading the pallets of tea while their Moogan bosses waved their arms in unspoken orders.
"Should I call in my security ma'am?" Satine shook her head.
"No...We need to wait and see what happens." The quiet thud of boots upon metal reached them. Narrowing her eyes Satine gazed out in the night and frowned. "Look there! It's a customs official." It was clear that the man knew the smugglers for he waved happily and all work ceased as the leader stepped forward to greet them.
"Welcome back to Mandalore gentlemen. Always so good to see you. Now if you don't mind I'm here for my inspection." There was an undercurrent to the word that had both Satine and Padme bristling. The leader of the smugglers nodded to one of his men who reached into his pouch and pulled something out.
"Why of course friend." He dumped the contents into the official's hand and the man shook it. Even from their hiding place they could hearing the ringing of ingots and see their faint shine in the dim light. "We would expect nothing less from such a dutiful public servant." The official nodded then turned, shoving the money into his own pouch as the smugglers returned to their work.
"How?" Satine's voice was colored with disbelief. "How are they able to do this? How are they able to operate with such impunity?" She shook her head. "We must return. I need to know just how high up this corruption goes."
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"I'm sorry Duchess, Senator. But what you are telling me is an impossibility." The two women stared at the police Captain as the man shook his head even as their gazes burned through him and he was flanked by two Protectors.
"How can you say that?" Padme finally blurted out. "The Duchess and I and a guardsman saw what took place with our very own eyes!" The police Captain again shook his head.
"You are telling me that you saw smugglers bribe a customs official at the docks and that it didn't appear to be the first time." He kept shaking and shaking his head as though that would make the accusation go away. "We keep the docks high secured. There's no way such blatant bribery could even be attempted. As I stated before it is impossible! No criminal element would dare step foot there."
"But we are not talking about thieves breaking in and stealing goods are we Captain?" Satine drummed her fingers on the arm of her throne. "We are talking about corruption. Something far more dangerous than most illegal activity because money, as all of us in this room knows, is by far the most powerful weapon in all the known galaxy."
The Captain only snorted. "Not even bribery takes place under my watch Duchess. I make sure of that."
"Yes, but there are times when you are not watching." Padme's sharp gaze became even sharper. "What happens when you're not there and not watching?"
"Another reason it is impossible Senator as I am always watching."
"Does that mean you were watching as the children of Mandalore were being poisoned and dying?" Satine's voice was a sharp as Padme's gaze. "Tell then if you were not watching, than who was?"
"Duchess, I speak with all due respect and..."
"No Captain!" The Duchess' voice echoed through the throne room as she stood tall and proud and sure at the top of the dais. "If you truly wish to give me respect and earn my respect in return than you will stop standing here, offering me excuses and stalling. You will get out there and arrest these criminals at once!"
"Stalling? Stalling!" It was clear the man's high pride had been deeply wounded. Satine stalked down the steps and shoved herself into the man's personal space. He didn't flinch though he did glare at the Duchess.
"What else can I say that you are doing considering that you are standing here jabbering on about such a thing isn't possible instead of down there checking if it is? I can only assume then that you are stalling and therefore a part of this operation!"
"What? I..." The police Captian heaved a sigh and even rolled his eyes. "Fine. I guess it can't hurt to go down there and take a quick look." He walked away muttering under his breath.
The women pretended to ignore his whispered insults. After all he was just a man clearly unhappy to be bossed around by women.
Well he would surely change his tune one day soon.
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The average citizen of Mandalore stared up overhead as the police speeders raced past, sirens blaring to warn other speeders to get out of the way. They were in a hurry and needed the right of way.
But it wasn't the sirens that normally heralded an attack by Death Watch, so the speeders were only meant with slightly wondering stares and not terror or panic.
Except for Death Watch Mandalore was mostly peaceful, so just what exactly was going on?
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The doors to the warehouse that Siddiq had named as the base of operation for the smugglers was being guarded by a pair of police in full uniform. Analise frowned as she dipped just deep into the Force to read a hint of their auras and frowned in confusion. "Satine..." She turned to the Duchess as the others climbed out of the speeders. "Why are there guards stationed here?"
The Duchess shook her head confused. "I don't know. Did you order them here after we met?" She spun so quickly on the police Captain that the man paled unsuspecting such a fast attack on his character.
"Duchess how could I have called them? I've been with you this entire time." He did stare at the men. "But I will get to the bottom of this." He strode up to the men and Analise read that his pride was slightly wounded at the idea that the Duchess, seated high and lofty over them all had still been able to see a crime where he did not. "Guards let us into this warehouse at once," he barked at them.
"I'm sorry Sir," one of the guards stammered out. Clearly they hadn't been expecting any sort of challenge or order from someone with higher authority. "But we've been given strict orders not to let anyone in."
"What in blazes?" The Captian began to curse up a storm in Mando'a than quickly stopped. Analise wanted to tell him it was fine, that she wasn't offended. She had heard much worse on the battlefield after all. "Do you either of you know this lady is?" The Captain pointed at Satine as his face was slowly turning red. "Do you recognize her at all?"
"Gentlemen I cam commanding that you open these doors and let us inside at once!" Satine spoke the order with all the weight of a royal command.
The two guards shifted, each one stammering as they wrapped their brains around the fact that before them stood no less a person than the Duchess of Mandalore herself flanked by the police Captain, another noble, some guards, and...Was that a Jetii? Yep, there was a Jetii. Even without a lightsaber any Mandalorian would recognize a Jedi. They just had a certain air about them, though this one could easily be confused for another noble.
Finally one of the men lunged forward with his staff and a rather feeble battle cry. The Captain rolled his eyes and ducked under the staff to place a perfect punch square on the guard's nose and easily repeating the action a second time as the second guard rushed them. Both men dropped, eyes rolling back into their heads. "Arrest them now!" the Captain yelled at the guards as he rubbed his not too sore fist before entering the override commands into the warehouse door panel.
It was the scene the three women had been expecting, but the quick gasp of breath from the Captain made it clear that he had not been even though they had found the two guards outside. A pair of scientists stood before a machine with Moogan smugglers watching their every move. Crates of tea and tanks of slabin clearly marked lay scattered everywhere. The group looked up, alarmed.
"Hold it right there! You're all under..."
The Captain didn't get to finish his sentence as the smugglers opened fire and they were forced to scatter. The guards ushered the three woman behind a container and Satine cursed herself for allowing that silly rule banning off-world weapons. She smiled sheepishly at Analise who shook her head.
A lightsaber should would have been handy.
The Captain pulled out his own blaster, set on stun of course. He and two of the Protectors ducked inside. The guards raised their sheilds and he kept close behind them, shooting as many of the smugglers as he could on his own. But one saw an opening and took it.
The Captain gave a startled cry as he was shot in the shoulder and flew back, his blaster skidding across the ground as he lost his grip on it. Another shot took out a guard standing by the women.
The two protectors inside dragged the Captain out. Analise gestured for Padme to move the limp body of the nearby guard and for the others to step back. She called upon the Force, wrapped it around the container they had been hiding behind and pushed it across the open door.
Now the blaster shots bounched off the thick metal and not their bodies. "Padme?"
"On it!" Padme grabbed the Captain's blaster and Analise let go of the Force as another two Protectors took over, pushing at either end of the container. They marched forward, Padme in the center as she reached up and over the make-shift shield, carefully blasting away at the smugglers.
"Go! Analise will protect me!" Satine ordered the remaining Protectors who nodded and joined in the fray. They had no blasters, but their staff work was moving art and Analise paid carefully note wondering just how many of their moves could be adapted for lightsaber combat. She was sure she could find a way.
The fire fight didn't last long. Soon all was quiet and the three left outside went in to find the smugglers and scientists cowering. The Captain shook his head, this time impressed. "That was some shooting for a Senator." Satine chuckled.
"You should see what her husband can do with a blaster." She nodded towards Analise who blushed lightly and waved at the man before she piped up.
"He hates them." The Captain's confusion made both women laugh.
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"Now that we have made the arrests Captian, I want this warehouse and all the contents burned to the ground."
"What? Duchess you can't be serious. That's evidence and...
"Either you burn it down right now or I'll have to consider you a part of this conspiracy as well!"
"Alright, alright...Go ahead men. You heard her. Burn this place down."
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His hands cuffed and shoved into the back of an already very crowed police speeder, Va watched the warehouse go up in flames. He snarled.
So much for that very tidy little profit.
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"Our findings are very clear Prime Minister. Death Watch wasn't involved at all. It was simply a group of black market smugglers. They thought they could earn more by diluting the drinks with slabin, only they didn't realize that the process would make the drinks poison."
"And the sick children? Will they recover?"
"Dr. Zaz and Master Analise were able to find the antidote which thankfully isn't that hard to procure. With my permission Analise was able to contact the Jedi Order and was able to order more than enough of the antidote to add to what she and the doctor already had. Shipments are on the way and it will be distributed to every school and hospital on the planet."
"Well then Duchess I am very glad that this is all over."
"It's not Almec and you know it. This corruption we found is only a small part of what is going on. We found bribes, police not willing to work with us on an investigation, my own government being fooled. Tell me Almec just how did this happen. How does this happen?"
"I've very sorry Duchess, but I can't tell you that right now. What I can tell you is that I am setting up a committee to look into it."
"A committee? The children of Mandalore nearly died because our government can't be counted on and..."
"You worry too much Duchess. This crime will not go unpunished I assure you."
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"I'm still troubled by everything that has happened." The three women, escorted by the guards strolled to Padme's ship. Their parting was just as somber as their meeting.
"But you heard the Prime Minister. He'll investigate the matter and..."
"But he's not one to be trusted." When the Duchess and Senator turned to look at her, Analise tapped the corner of her eye. "I read his aura again and it hasn't changed. Almec is not one to be wholly trusted. He's a seasoned politician and we all know what that means."
Satine nodded. "You are right my friend. Almec is a good man with a good heart, but even he could be swallowed up by this corruption."
"You can't give up hope Satine."
"But hope will only get us so far Padme." Satine turned away a little from her friends. "I've even thought that the very people I am trusting to run this investigation might be just as corrupt as the people they are investigating." Analise tapped her fingers on the top of Katee's dome.
"What if you worked with the children?" Satine turned to face her. "The children are the future of any planet. If you start to teach them about corruption young, they'll be less likely to fall for it in the future." The Duchess nodded.
"I would want an outside teacher though...What about a Jedi working undercover? They could teach the children and..." All three women smirked as Satine left her sentence unfinished.
"It's a wonderful idea Satine and I think I know someone who would be perfect for the task. I'll talk to the Council as soon as I return and make the recommendations."
The three women came together and stood in a circle, clasping hands. "No matter what Satine," the Senator told the Duchess, "Don't loose hope."
"So long as I have friends, sisters in the galaxy like you two, how can I?"
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Translations
Jetii-Jedi
poodoo-fodder
sleemo-slimeball
