A/N: This takes place in Season 2 Episode 14: Duchess of Mandalore! Please tell me what you think! Enjoy!
Chapter Fourteen
Ana stood among the shadows at the top of the Senate building where the Jedi's general view mezzanine was, though there were not too many others around. The Senate seats were all below them and circled around the side of the building with Chancellor Palpatine in his seat in the centre of the room.
While Master Yoda and Master Windu stood near the front by the balcony, Ana was comfortable were she stood off to the side, just enough of a view of the Senate that she could see it when she flickered her eyes up from reading off of a translator droid's screen. Although she was sure that the Jedi Masters knew she was there, she kept herself closed off almost feeling as tough she was hiding.
Admittedly, working with the Duchess and knowing her predicament made the redhead curious about how the Duchess would make her case to the Senate, and if it would work in her favour.
And already, it seemed like it wasn't.
It grieves me to say it, the blue words quickly typed out the Chancellor's words against the black screen of the hovering droid. But Death Watch is now a significant and deadly threat.
The words quickly disappear one letter after the other like dominoes as 'Mandalore Seat' comes to the top of the screen to indicate who was talking. When her eyes flickered up again, it was Satine's face, still complimented and framed by her regalia, that took up most of the large screens that hovered around the Senate as she herself hovered closer to the centre of the room and to the Chancellor, maintaining her regal aura.
Mandalore is making great strides to find the leaders of this terrorist movement. They are not powerful enough to destabilize our government. The Duchess's words typed through faster than the Chancellor's had. When Ana looked up again quickly to the screens, she could see how assured that the Duchess felt in her views through her features. She was determined, so sure. Seeing the quick white light flashing in her lower peripheral vision, the redhead looked back down to read what the Duchess further said.
We will resolve this without conflict. If the Republic gets involved in our affairs, it will only lead to further violence. Thus, I shall reassert our position of neutrality.
The words on the screen completely collapsed almost before she could read the last word. 'Chancellor's Seat' came up at the top immediately and white words quickly typed out Talk of an idealist. Already Ana could feel the tension in the air of the Senate slowly beginning to rise.
The words collapse again as 'Mandalore Seat' comes to the top and the robotic white words type out Satine's response. The words change from white to blue through the speaker.
No, those are the words of a Pacifist and a people who have chosen non-violent action.
That may be so, Duchess, however this message was delivered to my staff just this morning. I think you shall find it most illuminating.
Ana's brows furrowed and she looked up to see what the Chancellor was talking about. Within moments, a projection of a Mandalorian man almost as tall as the ceiling illuminated the Chambers and the screens. The uniform looked familiar from her readings back at the library, but she couldn't remember exactly what this government uniform represented. It looked like some type of higher up deputy uniform.
When flashes came up into her peripheral vision again, Ana looked down and read the yellow italicized text of the voice from the projection.
The actions by our government have taken us into a period of civil war. To acknowledge it would be to invite panic in the streets. It is more than mere possibility, more than eventuality. It is here.
Stop!
White words came up at the bottom of the screen from Satine's immediate response and soon the yellow letters collapsed until it just showed the white words and Satine's seat at the top. Ana took a quick glance down at the Senate towards Satine, now standing side by side with Queen Padme Amidala. Even from this distance Ana could see the confusion and hurt on the Duchess's face.
She understood how conflicting it was. Why would someone from Satine's court betray her like this, sending a message that obviously she and her court alliances had not seen beforehand straight to the Chancellor? Could it be that he is also a part of Death Watch trying to undermine Satine's authority to make it seem like her own people, members of her own court, were against her stance? If that was right wouldn't there already be a civil war, or even just protests, on Mandalore to question Satine's stance. She had read the vote of neutrality that not just the court voted on, but the people of Mandalore too.
When she noticed Satine's mouth moving, she quickly looked back down to her screen again.
Deputy Minister Jerec is an honourable man! He would never commit such lies to the record!
When Ana looked back up to glance at Satine, she didn't need the Force to be able to sense her hurt and confusion. It was written all over the blonde's face. It didn't seem that someone in Satine's court would do this, especially one that she seemed to have so much heart and loyalty to, but then again they had been wrong about the plot on the ship just getting here.
Realizing that the words were forming on the screen again, she quickly looked down and tried to read quickly before the words would collapse to show new ones.
The Mandalorians government holds no secrets from its people.
If that were only true, blue words typed out in response.
Brows furrowing again, Ana looked back up when she saw the projection move, looking at the hologram to learn of the message herself.
"Death Watch is far stronger than we once thought," even though his mouth was enlarged in the projection, that didn't help the blur or how she could still see through them. But she could definitely read his facial expressions and emotions behind his words. The Deputy Minister did seem apprehensive and full of indignation. "If we—"
For the weirdest moment Ana felt like she thought she blinked, but wasn't sure if she actually did. She missed what the message was saying now, her eyes were just glancing at the projection as a whole. She blinked a few times before trying to focus on the man's lips again, "…rejects the help of the Jedi."
This time her eyes art adverted when she sees Satine in full distress, looking up and around at the other members of the Senate in pleaded need, confusion clear beneath the surface. Ana didn't near to hear to know what she was likely saying.
When the projector's lips moved again, the redhead turned back to catch the Deputy Minister continue, "The Duchess Satine will ultimately cause our defeat. Make no mistake, Republic intervention is absolutely necessary."
Although Ana could see the white flashes below her eyes again, she could only stare at the hologram. It was interesting how the Deputy Minister's face could change very quickly between different emotions. There were times that his face was appearing almost the opposite of what his words were saying. And why was his mouth moving so…oddly.
However, of what was being said certainly was having the effect that the messenger wanted on the Senate. She could sense the shift and tension between the other members as they took in the message themselves.
Finally, looking down at the translator screen again, she read over what Satine was saying before the letters collapsed and turned blue.
I wish to speak to Jerec immediately.
Sadly Deputy Minister Jerec perished this morning in a Death Watch bombing on Kalevale.
Well, that was too convenient.
Ana froze in shock for a second when she realized what had actually popped up in her mind. But the more she let it sink in, the more Ana realized that she was right. The Duchess would know if there was this much turmoil in her own country that a Deputy Minister thought it would be enough to undermine her and go straight to the Senate for help. And if that was true, surely there would be more uproar on Mandalore and that news would already be circulating across the galaxy before this ever happened. True Death Watch was a rather new threat, but still there would've been more information about this if the government of Mandalore was this divided. And the man who sent this message conveniently died almost right after he made this?
Something just wasn't sitting right with her.
Looking back at Satine's distressed face, Ana's own face settled further and further into a frown before she looked down when the blue letters indicated the Chancellor was talking again.
Let us ensure that his death was not in vain. Let us commit our military might to defending the Madalorian people.
Defending?
Somehow Ana heard Satine's tone of hurt and anger through the block text as it changed its colours for the speaker.
You mean to occupy our home. You would trample our right to self-determination?
We mean to save your people.
You will turn our planet into a military target which will bring the war to us! Mandalore must remain a neutral system!
Ana thought about it, sure it was true since it would be easier to take down Mandalore if it became a war zone, but at the same time it would have to mean there was a specific target for the planet. How many systems in the Senate were funding the war and yet they were not specifically looked for. And despite Satine's seeming reassurance that they could take care of Death Watch on their own, was something that the Deputy Minister said true? Could they see an escalation coming that Satine can't? She didn't even know the moon they were watching was a terrorist development in the making.
Then again, there was also something to be said about the fact that many worlds, both neutral and under Senate regulation, had been invaded by Separatists and it was considered a lost. The only reason they seemed to care so much, if that was what it could really be called, was because Mandalore was a planet of enough wealth to care about.
She blinks a few times to regain her focus when the Chancellor's words began to type out on the screen.
The vote shall commence in the next session.
Ana frowned, looking back over the balcony to look at a dejected and confused Satine as she flew her seat back to its hold. She didn't quite stomp out, but there was something about her walk that held a type of elegant anger and will to it. As much as Ana understood why, at least politically, the Senate would want to get involved, she didn't like to see Satine and Mandalore getting steam-rolled either and making what might be a delicate situation worse, especially when it involved a war occupation.
And still, something just didn't sit right with her.
The other Jedi around her that came to watch were already dispersing while Ana took everything over. When she saw movement from the other side of the Senate on a lower balcony, her eyes flickered down to see Obi-Wan standing there, a hand on his beard in thought. She had sensed him when he came in, but understood that he had wanted to keep a low profile too.
He was already moving out to follow her while all the other Senators were disengaging their seats and filing out as well, no doubt chatter as their background as they discussed amongst themselves and their other leaders how they thought they should vote. Even the Jedi were beginning to leave but Ana stood in the shadows while the translator droid began to move back as well to shut down before being used again. Ana's eyes stayed on where the hologram had been projected.
All of this gave her far more questions than the answers she thought she would get observing the meeting.
Finally parting, Ana moved from the balcony and out the door to the rounded hallway. She moves silently, weaving in and out of moving droids and senators and other royal members across the galaxy talking amongst themselves or departing to wherever they were staying or being hosted.
Walking past them, silent, Ana was left with her thoughts as she walked through the hallways and to the front doors. Hailing a speeder, she made her day back to the Temple not too far away. Even at a distance she could sense Obi-Wan's own confusion and inner distress. Maybe it was feeding into her own.
Walking back on the steps and hallways of the Temple, she almost bumped into Ahsoka, not realizing that her vision was almost a blur. Ana knew that she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going as she should've, considering that suddenly Ahsoka was a step in front of her and Ana almost swayed in an attempt to not lose her balance and walk right into her.
Looking up and blinking into clarity, Ana looked at Ahsoka's face and realized that she must've said something.
"Sorry, Ahsoka, what did you say?" She asked.
Still making that face with her one white line raised, Ahsoka crossed her arms slightly.
"You don't seem like yourself," she responded.
Ana let out a small chuckle, shaking her head as a nervous smile slowly rose to her face, one people made when they just didn't know what to think but still wanted to put the other person at ease.
"Sorry, Ahsoka, I was just listening to the discussion at the Senate," the redhead explained.
Ahsoka's expression slackened.
"About the Duchess?" she asked.
Ana nodded.
"It didn't exactly go well for Duchess Satine, but at the same time…you ever get the feeling when you are looking at a situation and something just doesn't…seem right?" Ana asked.
Ahsoka nodded, her face falling slightly and she looks down in memory.
"Yeah," the Togruta replied before she sighed and looked back up at Ana. "I've been there."
Ana sighed. Before her mind could go back to the message again, Ahsoka's movements caught her attention.
"Well, before I was asking if you wanted to spar with me now that you're back. It's been a while since I've actually practiced with anyone besides Anakin," the Togruta explained.
Barely needing a moment to think, a soft smile grew on Ana's lips. "That sounds like a great idea."
The Togruta smiled back.
It didn't take the two long to get to an empty training room. Ana had quickly braided her hair into a ponytail as they walked down together and Ahsoka had been eager to start. It was only a few minutes when they entered the training room that Ana was holding her lightsaber tightly as her blue blade held opposition to Ahsoka's green.
She couldn't quite account for how much time she was there. Ahsoka had been swift with her attacks and Ana found herself concentrating hard on making sure she was blocking them from getting through. Obviously her attacks and style were different than Obi-Wan's, not to mention that she wasn't going easy or going at a slower pace to further train her as Obi-Wan. It had been flustering at first and although Ana hadn't let Ahsoka get through, she did almost lose her footing a few times.
But she got used to Ahsoka's attacks, and the general tactics she used. Ahsoka's attacks were a bit more chaotic than Obi-Wan's, but there was still a form and follow-through that Ana was beginning to catch onto. And although it was demanding, and she felt her wrists tightening in slight aches with the constant rolls they made for the right angles, she found she was enjoying the pace once it set in. When it seemed like Ahsoka had left herself open she was able to strike back a few times, especially a little further along when she felt Ahsoka beginning to loose steam.
The redhead took a step forward and angled herself more sideways to keep her strength on the front foot as she held Ahsoka's lightsaber back again, feeling the heat of the sabers on her face as she looked at Ahsoka in the eyes before quickly turning on that dominant foot in a circle, twisting her wrist so it brought Ahsoka's lightsaber up and then down towards the ground before lifting it back and striking again just as Ahsoka was turning around and brought up her own lightsaber. However before Ana could get into a sturdier stance, Ahsoka was already pushing off and made Ana move back. Getting on better footing once they moved, she was easily able to brace herself when Ahsoka came up to attack her back.
After a second, Ana was able to push back Ahsoka's attack while also swinging it up before moving her lightsaber to the other side the second she watched Ahsoka's one arm turn from inward to outward, her lightsaber pointed the other horizontal way before Ahsoka's arms could begin to bring down her lightsaber, Ahsoka's thoughts not able to process Ana's movements fast enough to change her own.
In the light she saw Ahsoka say something, but her mouth was partially blocked by her lightsaber.
"You need to remember I don't know what you're saying," Ana tells her, also taking the moment of distraction to push Ahsoka forward with their lightsabers before bringing them up. Ahsoka quickly braced for something, but Ana already moved their lightsabers in a circle back towards the ground and let go to try and strike again but Ahsoka held hers up in defence.
In the back of her mind she sensed the Force presence, but pushed through it, making sure she was clear before she stepped back from Ahsoka and disengaged her lightsaber, still panting slightly, only now realizing that the top of her head was warm and some of her hair was sticking to her forehead.
Ahsoka does the same, smiling slightly, eyes turning to smile at Anakin at the doorway.
"Not bad," she tells Ana.
"You can say I suck," Ana rolls her eyes slightly.
"You don't!" Ahsoka tells her insistently, "and I was saying before that your defence moves are really good!"
Although Ana wanted to blow it off, she did smile slightly.
"I still have a lot to work on," she said, clipping her lightsaber to her belt.
"Well, we all do, but you held off me pretty good and I've been in the war longer," Ahsoka smiled. "You just need more practice. And I know it's more Obi-Wan's style, but you should practice more attack positions and moves. You left yourself open a lot of time when you do, and use more than your saber. I was worried I was going to get a kick to the gut once."
So that's what she braced for. Ana would have to take that in.
"Obi-Wan says I'm still pretty open too," Ana sighed.
"I'm sure I was too, right Master?" Ahsoka asked, now looking over Ana's shoulder at Anakin, who was still in the doorway.
Now that her attention was brought back to the Jedi Knight, Ana sensed something else from him. Her brows furrowed slightly before she turned to look at Anakin, worry beginning to creep in.
"What happened?" Ana asked cautiously, she could sense his concern and unease deeper and deeper with every second she focused on it.
"On her way from leaving the Senate Satine's ship crashed," Anakin explained.
The redhead's eyebrows shot up in alarm.
"Is she okay?!" Ana asked, shocked, Ahsoka saying something from beside her but in the corner of her eye Ana only saw her lips move.
Anakin nodded, "the pilot's dead. He managed to get close enough to a roof for Satine and her guards to jump off…Satine's claiming the ship was sabotaged."
Ana stood there, stunned. Obviously Death Watch's grips had made it to Coruscant and they certainly weren't letting go. Satine's theory on being her leadership, much like her ship, being sabotaged or at publicly attacked to give the impression of a brutal lack of awareness didn't seem too far off.
And when Obi-Wan's face came to her mind, she knew that he wouldn't let this go just as much as Satine. She couldn't shake something off her mind either.
"Where is she now?" Ana asked, only seriousness in her face.
"Talking with the Chancellor," Anakin replied.
Ana nodded, as though taking that information in before she looked between Anakin and Ahsoka, who had spoken something to each other that she had missed.
"You can rewatch Senate meetings, right? Like at least the things that were filmed to project onto the screens around Coruscant?" Ana asked.
Anakin's face twisted in confusion slightly but he nodded.
"Yeah, they are in the files at the Senate. They get logged into the Temple's files a week after," Anakin answered.
Satine didn't have a week if this kept up, Ana was sure of that.
"I've got to go," Ana declared hastily, already moving towards the door, slightly disheveled hair and all.
Anakin gave her an even stranger look and she was sure that she saw his mouth moving as she passed him but she didn't slow or stop to actually find out what he said. She was already hurriedly walking through the halls of the Temple to go back down to the streets as night came so she could get a taxi speeder back to the Senate building.
The security around the Senate building had grown since she had left, and the speeders of the other council members were also back. She was sure that after the Duchess's most likely assassination attempt that the Senate would convene for an emergency meeting, and the extra security was for precautions.
She could sense Obi-Wan was here too.
The redhead went through the civilian doors, easily making it past security when they saw she was a Jedi. Going through the doors, she went to the door droid, slightly annoyed that the actual worker was gone for the night even if it was for a valid reason.
"I need to go to the Senate Meeting Archives?" Ana told the faceless C-3P0 droid.
The droid's head bobbled slightly and Ana sighed.
"I'm deaf, can you speak in sign language?" Ana asked the droid, though she knew the answer already unless there was some type of update that she didn't know about.
Surprisingly, the droid did start signing slightly, it's metal fingers making incredibly boxy and almost foreign movements before she realized it wasn't even Basic Sign Language he was using.
"I don't know what language you're using, but I still don't understand," Ana sighed slightly with annoyance. "Can you just project a map and point me in the general direction?"
The droid nodded, bobbing it's head a little again as though. She had heard that some C-3P0 droids could be chatty. Not much good that did her. Soon, however, the droid projected something from a chip in its palm and a map of the multiple civilian clearance floors came up. The head seemed to bobble again before its other finger pointed to a room on the third layer.
Ana nodded, smiling slightly.
"Third floor, got it. Thank you," Ana told it before moving towards the lift. Once inside, she presses the button for the third floor before going up. When the doors opened again, she found herself in a grand library that could almost rival the one at the Temple. She saw a few droids around the room, but she moved past them silently until she got to the room that the droid at the door old her about.
The room was large, definitely at least twice the size of the library at the Temple with tall with grey walls that were shelved with hundreds of thousands of Senate meeting logs.
Looking towards the next droid, Ana asked, "has today's Senate Meeting already been logged?"
The droid stared back at her, maybe it replied, and then it moved towards a shelving unit that was closest to the main desk, the meetings of the month before they were catalogued into another spot in the room. Taking out a small chip case, the droid then grabbed a projector. Placing the chip inside, it handed over the projector to Ana.
Finding the nearest possible seat, Ana took a screening translator from the small box in the middle of the table before setting it by the projector and turning it on and setting it to basic and for all verbal communication. Turning on the projector, Ana watched the meeting unfold as she remembered and how the droids had filmed the meeting, the translator screen already picking up on the audio of the projector and beginning to type out the words again. Slowly swiping, Ana forwarded through the meeting until she finally saw the Deputy Minister's projection take up half of the projection so that the viewer could see the cameras directly on the projection and on the Senate's reactions. The plays the projection again and watches the Deputy Minister closely again.
"The actions by our government have taken us into a period of civil war. To acknowledge it would be to invite panic in the streets. It is more than mere possibility, more than eventuality. It is here…"
Ana's brows still furrowed. His mouth movements were still inconsistent and unnatural. Almost choppy. They blended together but in a way they didn't, not in a way that she had seen mouths move before.
"Death Watch is far stronger than we once thought—"
And Ana caught it again. Almost like a blink, a blip in the message. She rewound the projection again to the start of the sentence and, this time focusing on his lips. When she saw it this time, she felt something sink in her stomach. She could very clearly see that within a second, the Deputy Minister's mouth moved positions without any connection, like it was clearly cut then placed together.
This explained why his facial expressions were so divided and rushed between what he was saying. Maybe the other times they linked his video together smoothly, or just enough to have it seamlessly put together by someone who didn't know.
But the more she watched it, the more she realized that what was being typed out and what was being said, there was almost a lag in some parts, like someone blended the videos together to make it look seamless, however the audio was added after until it was actually what he was saying.
And the Senate was believing every word.
Looking over her shoulder, Ana called to the droid, haste clear in her tone, "can I get recorder chip of this?! Now!"
The droid's back was to her, but it turned around and looked at her before walking back to the desk and getting out another chip. Ana was trying to keep her breathing regular. She had to find Satine, or at least Obi-Wan.
The droid took far too long for her liking. When it was finally close enough she told it to record all of the Deputy Minister's speech. The instant it was copied onto the new chip she took it from its hands and almost ran out of the library and to the lift, saying hurried apologies to the droids or other members in the library before putting in the Jedi's security number to get to the top levels.
She remembered that Anakin said that Satine was talking with the Chancellor and immediately went to that floor first. The instant the lift was open she launched forward, holding the chip tightly in her hand. She dodged the people and crowds at first but found her way twisting through them when she found her footing as she went down the rounded hallways, moving towards Obi-Wan's worried force presence and latching onto it. If he was still around here, so was Satine.
Rounding another corner, she easily spots the back of Satine's dark green and blue regalia and dress, her security guards around her with Obi-Wan following not a few steps behind. Picking up her pace, Ana watches with some relief that the Duchess stops and turns, obviously talking to Obi-Wan. Queen Amidala wasn't too far away either. She had said something to the Satine that had made her upset. Just as the Duchess began to move back away, Obi-Wan was quick to try and follow her while Queen Amidala was already beginning to walk away.
"Obi-Wan!" Ana called out, increasing speed, "Duchess Satine!"
The two immediately turned to look at her from down the hall. Even Queen Amidala made a certain curious and surprised face, but Ana rushed past her. She could sense Obi-Wan's confusion before she was close enough to see those features on his face. She slows as she reaches them, catching her breath slightly as an ache started in her chest and stomach slightly.
"Ana, what are you doing here?" Obi-Wan asked, signing it as well.
But instead, Ana looked directly at Satine.
"Duchess Satine, I think," Ana then realized just how many people were staring at them. And likely yelling their names didn't help, but Ana was suddenly self-conscious that a lot of eyes were staring at her. And Ana didn't know what pair of ears may mean the Duchess harm. She lowered her voice again and leaned in closer, hoping that the others would get the hint. Within a second, Satine was leaning forward slightly too, though keeping a casual stance to an onlooker.
"Duchess Satine, the video of the Deputy Minister was doctored," Ana told her in a low voice.
The Duchess's eyes widened before her face set. She took a glance around and then moved to stand up straighter, saying in a casual tone and volume. "I can answer your question while we walk Padawan Ana. I need to go back to my quarters, my guards insist."
Ana nods, taking a glance at Obi-Wan's still slightly bewildered face before the group begins to walk. Although Ana could see the guards trying to hide it, she could sense their own confusion and edge as they walked close to the Duchess.
Once the group moved down a separate corridor, Satine instant looked around the hallway to make sure no one else was near before she turned swiftly to Ana.
"What are you talking about?" the Duchess asked.
"I'd like to hear this myself," Obi-Wan agreed, folding his arms.
The way they all looked at her made her feel like she was being slightly cornered. Gulping and pushing past it, she placed the chip confidently into her com-link so that she could project the Deputy Minister's message again.
"I should've seen it when I was in the Senate meeting. Something didn't sit right with me when I was watching it," Ana explained. As the Deputy Minister talked, Ana zoomed in on the Deputy Minister's face and mouth. "I was caught on the fact that his facial features kept overly changing. And then there was this moment that it was like…a blip."
She slows down the holo projection and tells them, "watch his mouth."
As the Deputy Minister's mouth moves in his speech, Ana sees again, this time so certain of it, the sudden clip of his mouth position from one place to the next without any possible follow through from one to the next.
Satine's eyes widen slightly before she closes them again.
"I knew that I could trust Jerec," Ana saw the Duchess comment before she opened her eyes and looked towards Obi-Wan while Ana turned off the holo. "This is exactly why I wanted to go to my contact at the Ministry of Intelligence! He must know something!"
"And I told you that you shouldn't be doing this alone!" Obi-Wan seemed to insist, his mouth moving so fast Ana could barely keep up.
"And I told you I'm not taking the Republic's help! I only have until sunrise before Mandalore will be overrun and destroyed by it!" Satine fired back with her own angered haste.
Ana's eyes bulged wide again as she looked between the two.
"Wait," Ana blinked a few times, shaking her head slightly. "What?! I thought—"
"Satine, someone just tried to kill you, and it's obvious this is incredibly high up both on Mandalore and on Coruscant. Someone wants to get their way!" Obi-Wan interrupted as though he was desperate to make her understand a language that she didn't speak.
"If I'm going to trust anyone, it's myself. Not the Republic and not the Jedi who are funded by them and may just lead the occupation that will destroy my planet," Satine hissed, moving her head away quickly but Ana just caught the hint of hurt in her eyes before she was stalking down the hallway again, her guards quickly trailing her and forming around her again.
Ana stared after her, almost dumbfounded by the exchange. She wasn't exactly sure how she thought all of this would happen, but she wasn't exactly expecting this kind of outburst either.
Turning to Obi-Wan, who was watching her walk away as well, Ana let out the breath she had been holding in, brows furrowed in pure confusion.
"What was she—?" She began to ask, but Obi-Wan already turned to her.
"The Senate made their vote while she was speaking with the Chancellor," Obi-Wan signed as he explained. "It wasn't in her favour."
"What?!" Ana let out an airy exasperated voice as her shoulders dropped. She stared after Satine again but she was already gone. No wonder she had been so upset.
She turned back to Obi-Wan and studied his face when he looked back down the hallway again as well, arms beginning to cross as he brought a hand up to stroke his beard. She already knew that look of determination in his eyes, Ana had seen it when they had gone into missions and facing Grevious before. But there was also a hint of emotion and need in it too, almost like he was desperate.
After a few moments, Obi-Wan turned to look back at her again, "lets get back to the Temple."
The redhead's brows furrowed.
"You're not going with her?!" Ana asked incredulously.
Shaking his head, Obi-Wan signed as he explained, "No. Pushing her will only make things worse and make her more upset. She can't be too flustered right now."
He pauses for a moment before he replies, and even though she couldn't hear it Ana knew his voice was a little softer.
"Besides, I know that if she needs the extra help she will contact someone for it," he explains.
She wasn't sure if her stomach still felt right about that decision, but it wasn't her place to say so. Nodding, Ana walks with him as they begin their way back down the hallway. Looking over at her, Obi-Wan signs as he speaks, "by the way, that was amazing what you did, noticing something like that. Obviously no one else in the Senate was able to catch on. I certainly didn't realize something was so amiss. You have an excellent eye for catching details."
Ana smiled slightly, looking down a bit before she signed back, "I'm just glad I was able to tell Satine before she left."
"She will not forget it," Obi-Wan told her. "And neither will I."
~.~
With her hair still wet from the shower, Ana brushed her hair as she looked through the news station holos that were reporting about the new Senate vote and results. Every holonet channel was flooded with the topic and she kept trying to figure out as much as she could about Satine's attack and the Sentate's decision and what it would mean for Mandalore. From what Obi-Wan told her, already the Republic was getting ready to send troopers and discussing numbers and who would lead the battalions. Not so interestingly, they had yet to try and contact anyone from Mandalore to ask what their views on the occupation were.
She set her brush down and turned to shut the light off to the refresher and came back to see Satine's face projected on the screen with red warning signs flashing around her. Ana rushed back to her bed. Picking up the device, Satine's picture changed from her usual regal view to one that was darker, almost blurry of Satine crouching down beside a man lying on the ground, her face partially hidden from view by her deep red cloak and a blaster in her hand.
Reading the subtitles below, Ana's brows furrowed as she saw the news warning about Duchess Satine Kryze being wanted for murder of a worker from the Ministry of Intelligence. The newscaster was telling people to be on the lookout for Satine and to call the Republic guards if they had any information while also urging the Duchess to turn herself in. She felt her heart beating a little faster.
Whoever was trying to kill Satine or set her up was doing a hell of a job.
Getting up from her bed, she dropped the screen before taking large steps towards her door. Her hand slammed on the button to open the door and already she saw Obi-Wan talking to a holo projection as he stood by the window of the shared living area. The instant she came out, Obi-Wan's eyes flickered up to look at her and he said something to the projection before it dissipated. She didn't get to see who it was since it was so small and far away from her, and the person's back was to her, but Ana had an idea who would be calling Obi-Wan at this time.
Staring at each other for a few seconds, Ana cleared her voice to gain her voice back.
"Satine's wanted for murder of her contact from the Ministry," Ana told him.
Obi-Wan nodded, almost curtly, before he walked away from the windows.
"So I heard," he told her signing so fast he actually let his grammar fall out the window before he moved to his room.
She watched him, still standing at the entrance to her room before she saw Obi-Wan come back out, taking hurried steps as he moved to put on a large brown cloak. Ana felt her heart beating faster as his back turned to her as he tied the clock securely around him.
"I want to help, too," Ana spoke.
Jumping ever so slightly at her voice, Obi-Wan turned slightly to look back at her and then shook his head sternly.
"No, Ana," he tells her, almost sternly. "You've….this doesn't concern you. Proving for the Duchess that the transmission was tampered with has been more than enough. And I know that she will thank you, but you don't need to get involved. I don't want you risking yourself to try and solve this with her. I don't need you to have a target on your back either."
"So you're okay with having one on yours?" Ana asked, arms crossing with slight worry. The question blurted out tentatively before she could really decide if she wanted to say it.
Obi-Wan stared at her for a moment, and in that moment Ana was relieved to find that she didn't sense any anger from him. Instead, he sighed and turned to her fully.
"Ana, I don't want you to risk your safety," Obi-Wan told her firmly. "I know that's not saying much since you've started going into battle zones, but I don't want you to concern yourself with this affair. The Duchess is stubborn and needs help, but what's going on is seeded deep into Mandalore, and I have a feeling in the actual Senate as well. I don't want you getting caught in the crossfires."
Ana stared at him for a few moments, mentally debating herself before she sighed and looked down for a second, her loose hairs falling over her eyes slightly. She nodded and looked back up at her Master.
"And you're going to help her alone?" She asked.
He nods, "she needs someone."
Ana nods again.
"I'll hopefully be back later tonight or tomorrow morning. We do have a deadline," Obi-Wan told her.
Ana nodded and pursed her lips.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised her.
The redhead smiled back slightly and Obi-Wan gave her one last sigh before he moved to the front door and left, shutting it behind him. Ana could only stare after him. A part of her wanted to obey him and follow his wishes. She was his padawan.
But there was the other part of her stared after him and shook her head before she turned and walked back into her room to grab her own navy blue cloak and lightsaber as she quickly put her hair up.
~.~
This time when touring around Coruscant at night Ana was alone, or at least not actively with anyone. She had to keep her distance when she followed Obi-Wan to one of the fountain parks. This sector and the others she walked in to follow him certainly were different than the ones she and Ahsoka toured a few weeks back. She was grateful for how lit most of them were. It made it easier to identify the people she walked past and be more comfortable in her surroundings. And the company did not seem as…criminally motivated. However, she was looking for a Mandalorian that was on a path to assassinate the Duchess so she knew that peaceful wasn't completely accurate either.
A few times she walked past policing troopers, and almost lost Obi-Wan's trail when they stopped her to to show her a picture of the Duchess and ask her if she'd seen her around the streets, but she had been quick with her lie and was able to catch up with him as she weaved through the other people wandering the streets or socializing. Obi-Wan hadn't seemed to catch onto her yet, or at least he made no outwardly appearance or moves that he did. Satine was obviously deeply etched on his mind.
She followed him at a distance to a local, and clearly rather popular, gathering spot. The area wasn't particularly large, but it was square and surrounded by larger buildings while inside of it were cone-like bars and restaurants for people to gather in while outside were benches and fountains. Watching Obi-Wan move towards the centre of the area, Ana stayed on the outside, carefully moving around the edge of the space, making sure that her face would be hidden by her cloak. It seemed like a bold place for the Duchess to hide, she walked past another set of police droids holding out a device with her picture. Then again, would they really be expecting a Duchess of Mandalore wanted for murder to hide in plain sight like this?
Reaching out into the Force, Ana senses Satine close by as well. So she was here.
And, likely, so was whoever had tried to kill her the first time.
Keeping close to the shadows of people's minds while still trying to blend in, Ana used the Force to reach out to the rest of the bodies around her, like steam slowly inching along the ground moving further and further from the source. She kept her sense of Obi-Wan in the back of her head as she tried to focus on the others, wanting to know if he ever suddenly got alarmed or upset. Most of the energies she came across came innocently, maybe a few that she could tell were not the kindest personalities, but nothing that really caught her attention. And as she walked along, she didn't see any Mandalorians either - or at least not in their armour.
Walking past a cone building, she glanced back towards where she saw Obi-Wan and Satine sitting. Their backs were to her, and to each other, obviously trying to be discrete. It probably would've worked better if they weren't so close to each other but it seemed like the clones and police droids walking by were still oblivious enough.
She eyes the large courtyard, looking at everyone, every face. There was no one in obvious Mandalorian armour, but then again when she was on the ship those who were trying to kill Satine weren't either. She looked at the faces of anyone that were regarding them specifically, or just seemed to be intently looking for something, anyone with a visible weapon.
There was nothing on the ground, no matter how much she walked on foot looking around. But the more that she was looking, the more a creeping sense of dread whispered around her like air lightly touching her skin or trying to whisper in her ear.
Her eyes adverted to each person again from the whispered warning, but she was sure there was no one that stuck out.
Casting her eyes up slightly, making sure her head didn't turn too much, Ana tried to gaze at the buildings around them. Were there any balconies, any open windows that someone could be hiding behind? She tries to walk casually around again, hiding behind the buildings as she tries to look through or slightly them to see if anything could be spotted, making sure to still keep her head lowered.
Looking up at the world in front of her, she sees Obi-Wan and Satine both get up and begin to walk away and in the corner of her eye, that's when she sees something flicker against the light. Irises moving, she clearly sees a man in bluish Mandalorian armour on top of a platform, now moving to bring out a long-range blaster.
And pointing it directly at the Duchess and Obi-Wan.
Her heart catching slightly, she opens her palm and focuses on the energy of the Force moving in the court yard. Focusing on the Mandalorian, she feels her Force close enough that she waves her steady hand suddenly slightly left and watches with satisfaction that the blaster moves to the left, almost as though his hand slipped. She sees the Mandalorian pause for a moment before returning the blaster to where it was as he tried to find Satine again. Ana looked towards her as well and watched the two leave the courtyard, distinctly going to a road that would go towards the direction of the Senate.
Glancing up at the Mandalorian again, she watched him sling the blaster back over his shoulder and run towards their direction, likely staying on the roofs of buildings to remain unseen.
Ana launched herself forward, quickly weaving her way through the small crowds of people until she got below the spot that the Mandalorian had been. Her cloak flowed behind her, her speed allowing it to fall off her head. She could see him in the distance, and remained close to the wall as she followed him, hoping to go unnoticed even as she dodged a few others walking in front of her and hastily making apologies as she passed. Turning a corner, she sees column-like fixtures outside of decorative and expensive housing. Taking the chance, when she is close enough she launches herself on one, making it over halfway up before she began to pull herself up the rest of the way. Grinding her teeth, feeling her nails break slightly with how she tried to grip at the column while her legs would shuffle up after, ignoring the multiple eyes that must've been on her at the moment.
Once high enough, Ana tightened her legs around the column as much as she could before quickly reaching up to grip the edge of the top of the building. Ana let out a small grunt as she unwrapped her legs and let herself dangle on the ground for a second before pushing herself up onto the platform. Getting her footing at the top, she immediately ran towards the direction that the armoured Mandalorian went.
She pauses when she gets a block away and notices the buildings shift, some having additions, some not. It was no longer as level as before. She takes glances around and curses slightly at not just following him. He could've found a way to cross over alleyways or footpaths to follow them.
Still panting from her run, she glances around and tries to look for any clues. At the same time, Ana tries to lower her heart rate and get her mind to focus again. She reaches out, trying to get that same whispered warning she had in the courtyard.
Just as she begins to sense something, she feels sudden vibrations through her boots at the same time she sees a bright flash on her right and hears the slightest boom echo in her ears. That was as good of a lead as any.
Running forward, she takes large strides as she makes the few buildings down to where the blast came from. Running along the edge of the building so she could see down the streets, she sees smoke come from a short alleyway a few steps away. Almost skidding to a halt, she looks down and through the fog is able to make out Sabine and Obi-Wan laying on the ground far apart with the Mandalorian standing between them, already moving his blaster.
Later when Ana thought about what happened she wouldn't ever recall that the plan to jump ever came into her mind. It was like a reflex.
She took the last few steps to where she was above the Mandalorian and then jumped off, making a striking pose with her legs as she landed almost sideways on top of the Mandalorian. Her momentum and his surprise forced the Mandalorian to fall to the ground, Ana aiming her fall so that he would be moving more towards Obi-Wan. His blaster fell out of his hands from the fall, clattering to the ground a few feet away Smoke still danced around them as Ana tumbled slightly in the fall, rolling like how Jedi Masters taught her in training years ago before using one roll to propel herself back to her feet in a crouching defensive stance a few feet in front of a still slightly shocked Satine.
Before the Mandalorian was able to collect his whits, Ana already grabbed and ignited her lightsaber, glaring at the armoured fiend in front of her while she quickly used the Force to throw the blaster even further away. As the dust and smoke from the explosion began to clear, she could see Obi-Wan stir from where he laid on the ground.
The Mandalorian looks up and just as quickly regains his footing and goes into his own defensive stance. Within a blink, he produces a smaller blaster from his holster and aims it towards Ana and the Duchess.
"Stand down," Ana calls to him.
In response, the Mandalorian shots at Ana, the Jedi quickly deflecting the blaster shots with her saber. As the Mandalorian began to walk towards them, still shooting around her, Ana took a few large steps forward herself. Behind him, she sees Obi-Wan immediately get up, his own lightsaber igniting as he runs forward. Focusing on the attacker, Ana swings, aiming for the blaster in his hand but he quickly leads it out of the way before bringing his fist back around to clock her cheek and in the whiplash of that, she felt his knee immediately kick at her side. She groans, lightsaber clattering to the ground. She holds her side and before the Mandalorian can aim at her again, Obi-Wan is already on him from behind. She watches the armoured Mandalorian turn around to fight him back, swinging his arms and throwing punches just as he tries with her.
Looking towards her lightsaber, Ana holds out her hand and wills it to come to her. When the metal drives to her hand, she clasps it tightly before getting up as Obi-Wan's lightsaber is also thrown from his hand. As the Mandalorian moves to aim another punch towards her Master, Ana shoves him to the side, using her heel to give a quick hit to the back of his knees. It gives Obi-Wan a quick enough cover to push the Mandalorian against the side of the nearest wall and she swore she felt the vibrations of it. However, pushing back she watches the attacker use the same force against Obi-Wan to slam her master into the other wall using his back.
She saw her shot as the Mandalorian turned around, blaster again aiming towards Obi-Wan. She ignites her lighter and quickly brings it down upon the blaster, slicing it apart before she takes another step closer, lightsaber disengaging as she wrapped her arm around the Mandalorian's that held the blaster out and with all her strength she whirled him around, hoping to get him away from Obi-Wan in case he grabbed another weapon.
Despite turning the Mandaloiran 180, he caught on to the attack before she could go into another defensive position and moved his one leg so that it would trip her. Before Ana could catch her balance, she felt a hand punch at the side of her lower back and Ana almost saw spots as she fell, gasping for air. As if for one last good measure, the Mandalorian twisted himself just enough so that he could get his elbow towards her head. Even at the awkward angle, when you are wearing armour and get partially zoned in on your head, it'll hit. Ana let out another gasp as he hit her bottom lip. Desperate not to let go, despite the stinging pain in her backside, her eye catches on movement as she sees Obi-Wan, lightsaber and hand out ready. Almost nodding, Ana uses the rest of her strength to twist and throw the Mandalorian to the ground, watching him fall in a heap. As the Mandalorian moves to bounce back up, the attacker is suddenly lifted into mid-air and thrown hard against the building, forcing the wall to crack on impact.
Ana watches, catching her breath but before Obi-Wan could get closer, orange flames suddenly sprouted behind the Mandalorian and he shot into the air at a momentum greater then Obi-Wan's Force to hold him down. Ana watched in tired annoyance. She made a mental note. Next time you're fighting a Mandalorian, go for the jetpack. Obi-Wan and Satine followed him a few steps with just as much feeling as hers before stopping when he seemed to disappear behind new buildings.
She looked down, catching her breath again, one hand on her knees from the position she had been in when she threw the Mandalorian while the other movies to put the hair that broke out of her tie in the struggle behind her ear.
Feeling a sudden warm hand on her shoulder, she looked up to see Obi-Wan's worried face with Satine's not too far over his shoulder and realized he must've been trying to talk to her.
"Are you alright?" He asked, signing as well.
Ana nodded, taking another breath before easing herself into a standing position. She bit her tongue to hold the wince she almost made before feeling something trickle down her chin. She brought her hand up to wipe at it. Looking down at her hand, she realized it was blood. The Mandalorian must've given it to her on that last elbow in.
"I'm fine," she responded, using the Force to lift her lightsaber back to her again when he fell sometime in the fight. Clipping it to her belt, she told him, "nothing I won't heal from."
Although the deep ache in her one side made it clear she should visit the healing centre in the Temple to make sure her kidney was still functioning properly.
Obi-Wan seemed to give her one more glance before letting go of her.
"I thought I told you to stay at the Temple," he commented as Satine came closer as well.
Ana shrugged.
"The last time you two went off alone to fight a Mandalorian from Death Watch you were captured," Ana commented, unable to help herself.
It did it's job, as she smiled slightly when a second later Obi-Wan snorted and shook his head in slight amused exasperation.
"You and Anakin must get along very well when I'm not around," Obi-Wan commented.
This time Ana's the one that let out the snort before she turned to the Duchess, getting more serious.
"Are you alright?" Ana asked her.
The Duchess nods, a worried yet grateful look on her face. "Yes, especially because I still have this," she comments before bringing out a memory clip in her hand to show both of them.
Ana's eyes widened slightly.
"Your contact—" she realized.
"He gave this to me before he was murdered," Satine explained before she turned to Obi-Wan. "We don't have much time. We have to go along with my plan. This proves it."
Ana's brows furrowed as she looked between them and saw Obi-Wan's face, a mixture of defeat and determination.
"We only have an hour left," he agreed.
Ana held up a stopping motion with her hands to both of them.
"Hold on, what plan?" She asked.
Satine looked at her before then turning to Obi-Wan almost as silent communication with each other. Ana rolled her eyes.
"I'm already here, aren't I?" She asked.
Obi-Wan stared at her before he nodded slightly. Taking the lead, Satine explained.
"I'm going to turn myself in. I'll give Obi-Wan a distraction to break into the senate and to Queen Amidala so she can show the original transmission to the Senate before they can deploy any troops," she explained.
Ana nods, taking in the plan. If it didn't take Obi-Wan to show the message, Satine wouldn't actually reach a full charge before she was taken out of any custody she was in. Why would she kill her own informant that gave her what she needed?
"Actually," Obi-Wan considered, turning to Ana, "this might be a better solution if you are here. The Death Watch is still around and even if you are in custody, Satine, he could still attack or try to kill you again. I can stay outside the building while Ana is the one that delivers the message to Padme."
Processing the plan, Ana is already shaking her head.
"No," she tells him, looking at her Master. "It'll be better if I stay with Satine. You know the hallways of the Senate better than I do and you know Queen Amidala more than I do. You'd be able to get to her quicker."
Staring at her for a few seconds, Obi-Wan finally relents. He turns to Satine, surprised to see her holding out the chip.
"Take it now," she tells him.
Nodding, he does so and places it within his robes for safe-keeping. Turning to look at all of them he comments, "we better get going. The Senate will be in meeting at any moment."
The two women nod before the three break into a run back towards the Senate building.
~.~
By the time they reach their destination, the sun is just beginning to rise as the sky gives a more lighter blue hew. There were a few people and crowds around the Senate doors but most of them were huddling around the screens that were sharing the Senate's discussion during the current meeting.
Obi-Wan had already left to hide behind one of the building's door dividers, giving them a last nod before he left. Ana looked to Satine, who gave her one last confident nod before she walked up the steps to the Senate doors. The regular guards were still there, different ones that she had seen the night before but still the same amount.
Ana followed close behind Satine, eyes searching the tops of buildings and speeders that flew past, looking for anyone with Mandalorian armour. But while the Force seemed to exude stressed energy around the Senate, she didn't feel any warnings in it either.
As she reached the top steps, Satine pulls down the hood of her robe and holds out her hands. She must've spoken because as she reaches the top step, the guards turn to face her and almost immediately encircle her, on guard but only one was pointing his blaster at her. In the corner of her eye, Ana watches Obi-Wan sneak out from behind his post before running towards the doors. He took one more glance behind him and Ana gave him a hopeful look before she looked towards the guardsmen.
She watched as the one not pointing his blaster at Satine hold her shoulder to turn her around so she is facing Ana, then grabbing at her wrists a little harshly.
"She may still be under suspicion but she is still a Duchess," Ana tells them, all the while she is watching the Duchess she is keeping a feeling out in the Force for any danger or to sense the Mandalorian in the Force again.
The other guard immediately looks to her. While getting cuffed, the Duchess looks over her shoulder and says something before she looks back to Ana.
"He's asking who you are," she clarifies before standing up straighter once the cuffs are on her.
Ana looks back at the guards and tells them, "I'm Ana Staphos from the Jedi Temple. And I'm deaf, I can't understand you with your helmets on."
She could sense the guard's confusion and they looked at each other, likely verbally or wordlessly debating the situation. After a few seconds, the two guards look back at her and the one that was formally holding the blaster to Satine then moved a hand up, letting his other hand relax as he took off his helmet, revealing a very pointed-featured man, lips hard set but still something akin to softness in his eyes.
"I asked, how were you able to find the Duchess," the guard repeated to her.
Keeping up the facade while also trying to buy time, Ana answered confidently, "I was touring around the lower levels of Coruscant when I recognized the Duchess." Ana looked to the blonde saying a few words before looking back to the guards, "I managed to convince her to do just as many were saying in the reports, to turn herself in. She keeps insisting to me that she is innocent, that she wasn't the murderer but was trying to get away from one. I thought that the proper authorities should handle her but I thought, as a Jedi, it best to escort her here just to be sure."
The guards seemed to take all the words in before looking back at Satine. The guard then looks back at her, raising an eyebrow.
"How did she know you were deaf?" He asked.
"I told her of course. It's hard to have a conversation with someone who doesn't know you are deaf and can't see you when your head looks away," Ana explained simply.
The guards looked at each other, and despite what Ana said the one says something to the other. Ana tries to twist her head to figure out what he said before the guard looked back to her.
"Thank you, Jedi," he nodded to her. He began to move his helmet out from under his arm while the guard began to walk with Satine, about to lead her to the Senate. For a second, Ana panicked. She took a quick glance to the screens to see that the Chancellor is still addressing the Senate. Obi-Wan must not have reached Queen Amidala yet.
She needed to make more time. Biting her lip, Ana took a step forward.
"Excuse me, aren't you going to inform the Duchess of her rights?" Ana asked, giving a tone of impatience.
The guards looked over at her in surprise. Even the Duchess raised an eyebrow.
"We've already done so," the guard responded as though it was the most obvious answer.
"Well I didn't hear it," Ana responded, still keeping a confident facade.
The guards looked over at each other before back at her, a slight panic and confusion in the one's eyes.
"Well, of course…well you couldn't…" the guard struggled to find the right words to say.
"I suggest you do it again, just to be sure," Ana tells him, "so that there is a witness that the Duchess was informed of her rights. I'm sure that you wouldn't want the case to fall out of your hands because of a technicality the Duchess could make. If I did not know for sure that you said it, the Ducess could argue she was not informed at all. How do I know you are not lying?"
The guards still seemed to sputter at her while Duchess Satine was grinning almost from ear to ear. After a few moments, the guards began to almost fumble their way through the rights again. Ana took in a breath, silently wishing Obi-Wan to hurry as her eyes cast around her again, making sure she did not see anyone that could be a threat. Despite not wanting Satine to go into immediate custody and holding, she didn't like her being so out in the open either.
Just as she was checking the speeders floating past, a blue image caught her eye and she looked towards the screen. Within seconds, a relieved smile was blooming on her face as she saw the familiar projection of Deputy Minister Jerec.
It's only when she lets out a sigh that Ana realizes how much tension were in her shoulders. She turns and looks back to Satine. The redhead didn't know what was specifically in the message, but she can tell by the look of pure relief on Satine's face that it would be what was required to change the Senate's mind about the occupation. Obi-Wan made it before the end of the meeting, and before sunrise.
Turning back fully to the guards, Ana smirks slightly.
"Gentlemen, I do believe that this may change Duchess Satine's charges," Ana tells them. "She should probably talk with the Chancellor to explain her story."
The guards looked at her, still stunned.
~.~
The Chancellor's meeting room was smaller than she expected it to be, though not to say it still wasn't large. However, it was as dull and formal as she thought it would be for a Chancellor. Browns, little details. All the same, even standing beside Obi-Wan with Anakin not too far away, her nerves were not easily quelled being in the room, much less directly in front of the Chancellor him and Queen Amidala. The room itself was unnerving, a certain power of nerves being in it for the first time.
"Thankfully with the revelation of this new information, the occupation of Mandalore is no longer necessary," the Chancellor explained to the four in front of him.
Obi-Wan then turns to her and signs after pointing to Queen Amidala.
"The person to thank is Duchess Satine. She found the proof," Obi-Wan relays to her.
Duchess Satine, who was standing slightly off to the side, now in her regalia and in full regal atmosphere, steps forward. Ana twists her head to be able to see her over Obi-Wan's shoulder.
"I require no thanks," the Duchess nods to her as she walks forward, eyes then turning directly towards Ana and gave her a warm smile that also set deeply in her eyes, "however I do owe my sincerest thanks to your Padawan, Master Kenobi. I owe her both the confirmation that the message was compromised as well as my life."
The eyes on her does nothing to quell the sudden butterflies in Ana's stomach. She looks down, smiling a bit. When she looks back up, she sees Obi-Wan give her a proud smile as well before he suddenly turns and points to the Chancellor. The older man stands beside Mas Amedda as he eyes her.
"I've heard of your skillful help to the Duchess," Chancellor Palpatine tells her. "You must have extraordinary talents."
Ana isn't quite sure why, but inside her she swears there is something underneath it. Like a snake, just barely able to be seen, but she can sense there is not something completely genuine in the Chancellor's words.
Obi-Wan's signing catches her attention and she looks to him as well.
"Ana's deafness allows her to see great details," Obi-Wan explains.
Chancellor Palpatine nods, while Mas Amedda stares at her almost curiously.
"A rare disorder, but one that obviously gifts skills needed to be a Jedi during these times," the Chancellor responds almost casually before moving to look to the others.
Ana feels something clutch in her chest at the description. She looks down, anger beginning to heighten in her veins while an intense nausea holds her stomach hostage. She goes to say something, but the frog in her throat and the sudden surprise of the words leave her standing there in the embarrassment of it. She notices Obi-Wan begin to clarify something but Queen Amidala enthusiastically turns to the Duchess as a way to quickly move on from the subject. Still trying to control the nausea in her stomach, Ana looks to Obi-Wan again as he summarizes how the Senate had an emergency session to force the troops to stand down. Despite watching his hands, she can clearly see the admiration in his eyes the moment the Duchess entered the room and Ana found herself smiling softly about that.
As everyone's head's turned to the side, Ana did as well and followed their gaze to the Chancellor as he spoke.
"…offer a most sincere apology on behalf of the entire Republic. You are a most loyal servant, and we are all grateful," he spoke democratically.
"Yes," Mas Amedda agrees, "grateful."
Ana glances over at Satine, who looks grateful as she gives her nod to them, but at the same time it doesn't quite meet her eyes.
Queen Amidala looks towards the Chancellor again. With her back to Ana, the redhead's brows furrow a bit more and she reluctantly looks to Obi-Wan. He catches on again and silently signs that Queen Amidala wanted to talk logistics with the Chancellor. Ana nods and watches the Chancellor follow her lead, staring daggers into his back, before Anakin and Obi-Wan go to follow along. She glances away, still trying to settle the tightness in her chest.
She goes to follow Obi-Wan, but the Duchess holds out an arm before she and her Master could go. The Duchess turns to look at them both, looking more grateful then she had before.
"I would like to thank you again, Ana," Satine told her before she looked to Obi-Wan. "It's quite apparent that perhaps your teaching skills are not as…comical as I thought they were. You seem to have quite impressive padawans."
Obi-Wan chuckles slightly.
"And Ana, I do hope that you rub off on Obi-Wan more. He may be a Master, but he's not as smart as he thinks," Satine muses jokingly.
Both Ana and Obi-Wan smile, the tightness slowly leaving her chest.
"I'm glad things tied together in the end so we could stop the occupation," Ana agrees.
Satine nods before she looks to Obi-Wan. Ana looks between them for a moment and before she could say anything, she speaks up casually.
"It has been a long night. I should probably catch up on my sleep before I do any more training today," Ana comments.
Obi-Wan almost coughs but nods, "I will be back at the Temple with you shortly," he replies. "Training can be later in the day."
Ana nods, looking between the two again before smiling knowingly to herself before she leaves the two on their own in the Chancellor's meeting room. She is silent as he walks down the hallways of the Senate building. They were just as populated and crowded as the night before. And just like the night before, all she saw were people engaged with their own discussions that she couldn't hear, eyes sometimes moving towards her but she just blended in with the crowd as she passed, no more than a second on their radar.
She found some relief the moment she was back in the walls of the Temple. The energy wasn't as stressed or energetic as it was in the Senate or around Coruscant. There were less people to walk around in the hallways, and the few Masters she passed all gave her smiles.
She was about to turn the hallway to reach her room when she saw Anna coming down the hallway in the other direction.
"Ana!" She calls back, face excited as she quickened her pace over to her and the redhead can't help but smile back to her as she stops and waits for Ahsoka to catch up.
When Ahsoka was next to her, her face is enthusiastic.
"I heard about the Senate changing their decision! Word around the clones and Temple was that you and Obi-Wan helped Duchess Satine expose the truth," Ahsoka said excitedly in lips almost too fast for Ana to read.
The two began walking down the hallway again and Ana nodded, "thankfully we were able to help the Duchess before troops could deploy to Mandalore."
Ahsoka smiled before prodding forward a bit more.
"And I'm guessing that your not-actually-too-bad lightsaber skills helped," Ahsoka commented, one of her white markings over her eyes lifting expectantly.
Ana shook her head and laughed slightly.
"Only a little," Ana commented before pointing to her lip, "still had my ass handed to me by a Mandalorian."
Speaking of which, even though the ache in her side had lessened dramatically, it probably still wasn't a bad idea to visit a Healer just to be sure.
Ahsoka shrugged before she commented, "Mandalorians are one of the best known fighters in the Galaxy."
True, Ana conceded to herself.
"But if you are looking to learn more hand to hand combat maybe you could ask Cody. I mean, Rex and the 501st taught me a few things," Ahsoka commented.
Ana raised an eyebrow as she looked back at her.
"Really?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Yeah, it's part of their training."
Ana nods bad a few times. Maybe she would talk to Cody. That wasn't a bad idea.