Chapter Two
Vespera narrowed her eyes as Obi-Wan's lips parted. He drew back and raised his eyebrows and then leaned toward Vespera. "No one knows of your past?"
Vespera shook her head.
"Then where do people think you were when you were with the Order?"
"School," Vespera replied shortly. With a small shrug, she added, "Off-world. It's a pitiful excuse for my whereabouts since Master Shaak Ti found me so young, but my parents weren't expecting to lie about it in the first place."
"Why did they? Would it really be so terrible if people knew you were a Jedi? Many worlds consider it an honor."
Vespera scoffed. "You don't know Azyrion's history or culture. I didn't really either, but… Generations ago, Force-sensitives were demonized. It was a witch hunt. Those laws are still in place, so when I was discovered to be Sensitive, I was sent away in secret."
Obi-Wan's brow creased. "That seems a bit… archaic."
"That isn't the only archaic law in place here. Female rulers are not granted the same authority as male rulers, for the same reason Force-sensitives are demonized." Vespera clenched her teeth and fists before releasing the tension in her body as she sank onto the edge of her sister's bed. "One mad queen many years ago, and now queens must have a council to guide and advise us… I can't do anything without debating it with my council and husband first."
"Is that what you meant by your rule being easy to defy these days?"
Vespera stiffened and instinctively covered her wrist, still tender to the touch. "Part of the reason."
Obi-Wan stroked his beard as he gazed down at Vespera. Something tugged in her chest, some innate desire to trust him. She held back everything she wanted to say, everything bothering her. She and Obi-Wan enjoyed a close friendship once, but that faded when she left the Order. A dull ache throbbed inside her chest.
"Is that why you've cut yourself off from the Force?" Obi-Wan's question jerked Vespera from her thoughts.
"I haven't cut myself off from the Force," Vespera replied, "I just know how to keep others out."
Vespera smirked as Obi-Wan lifted a brow. Her humor faltered after a moment. She stood from her sister's bed and crossed to the window; her arms crossed. Her mind drifted to the Jedi Order and the ones she left behind there. Her true family.
"How is Master Plo?"
"He's doing well, as far as I know," Obi-Wan replied.
A soft smile tugged at the corners of Vespera's mouth and she turned. "And Master Shaak Ti?"
"She's on Kamino overseeing the Clones."
Vespera's smile vanished. "Ah."
"Do the Clones bother you?"
"Creating sentient beings to fight a war they have no true stake in bothers me," said Vespera, her brow puckering.
Obi-Wan lowered his gaze but offered no reply.
"We should be getting back."
"Right," Obi-Wan squared his shoulders. "Thank you for the datacard, Vez."
Vespera froze and narrowed her eyes at him. "Please don't call me that around anyone else."
Obi-Wan dipped his head respectfully while Vespera led the way back to the secret stairwell. She did not need the Force to feel Obi-Wan's confusion or feel his mind working, running over their conversation. Judging by the crease of his brow, he pondered their conversation deeply. While she walked, Vespera's mind drifted to a time when she and Obi-Wan shared an effortless friendship, studying in the Jedi Archives or meditating in the Jedi Temple. The dull ache in her chest returned.
One of Callan's personal guards stopped Vespera and Obi-Wan in the hallway. Vespera composed her features, but inwardly, her heart fluttered and she curled her hands into fists to keep them from trembling. What if someone overheard her conversation with Obi-Wan? What if Callan knew she used to be a Jedi—
"My queen," the guard inclined his head, "the king requests your presence in the council chamber."
Vespera swallowed the lump in her throat. Of course. She probably angered Callan by speaking over him in the throne room. She dipped her head to dismiss the guard and then turned to Obi-Wan. "I trust you know how to stay out of trouble, Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan smirked. "Of course, your majesty."
When he bowed slightly, Vespera suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at him. Ever so witty, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
…
As Vespera drew closer to the council chamber, her stomach twisted into knots. She clasped her hands in front of her to disguise their trembling. With a deep breath, she entered the council chamber. Her councilmen stood in greeting, waiting for Vespera to take her place at the head of the table beside King Callan, who watched her with a slightly curled lip. His eyes followed her like some reptilian creature, sharp and dangerous. He possessed the uncanny habit of making Vespera feel like prey.
"You cut across my authority in front of the Republic intruders," he accused before Vespera settled in her seat. The councilmen took their seats, too.
Vespera squared her shoulders. "I assure you, that was not my intention."
"Then what was your intention?" sneered Callan.
"You're fraternizing with the enemy!" cried Councilman Gan.
"Our sources tell us you're friendly with the Republic invaders and have spent some time conversing with one of the Jedi," added Deion.
Vespera widened her eyes. "Your sources? You're spying on me?"
"Spying on the Republic invaders, your majesty," corrected Deion.
"Gentlemen," Vespera straightened in her chair, "need I remind you that my loyalty lies with Azyrion? I am queen by birthright, and as such, I belong firstly to Azyrion, regardless of what friends I have beyond. My people matter to me more than anything else in this universe. If we do not figure out who attacked the Republic visitors on our soil without my say, then it could very well mean disaster for Azyrion. The faster we figure out who is responsible for shooting down the Republic ship, the sooner the Republic leaves our system. Would it not be better for me to be involved to ensure these Republic visitors don't get involved in something they shouldn't?"
The council exchanged glances. Gan, Deion, Cathal, Jiang, Torin, and Soren turned their attention to Callan, who pursed his lips and tapped his finger against the table. "Very well. Dismissed."
The councilmen stood and exited the chamber while Vespera tried not to roll her eyes. Calling a council meeting for something so trivial merely wasted time. She bowed her head to Callan and stood, but Callan jumped from his seat and grabbed Vespera's already bruised wrist.
"What are you up to, sneaking about the palace and investigating like a common Schutta?"
Vespera scowled. "How dare you?"
Callan tightened his grip on her wrist. "You are a queen, leave the investigating to the authorities."
"Do I need to remind you that my achievements as queen include more than just wearing pretty gowns and attending charity balls?" Vespera snapped.
"Oh, there's no need for that," Callan sneered. "I'm well aware of all your achievements as queen. They've been surprisingly few lately, haven't they?"
Vespera pursed her lips for a moment. "Perhaps if I didn't have to fight you and the council at every turn—"
"You know why you must. You rely on your heart too much. You need advisors with strong minds to help you make tough decisions."
"Tough decisions?" Vespera repeated. She yanked her wrist free of Callan's grasp. "I am well-versed in making tough decisions. What have you accomplished as king? Silencing a woman? Yes, your life is full of making difficult decisions. You must be so exhausted. Would you like to lie down?"
Callan raised his hand toward Vespera's face. She flinched, but Callan lowered his hand. He eyed her coldly. "You should be a good hostess and invite our guests to dinner tonight. After all, that's the queen's job, isn't it? To maintain the palace and entertain."
With a smirk, Callan left Vespera alone in the council chamber. She splayed a hand across her stomach and let out a shuddering breath.
…
Entering the guest quarters, Vespera found Obi-Wan, Senator Amidala, and the other two Jedi in the lounge. The other male Jedi—Anakin, Vespera recalled Obi-Wan saying—paced by the window, his hands curled into fists. A scowl contorted his handsome features. The young Togruta sat on a sofa, her arms draped over her thin stomach, feet propped up on the settee. Obi-Wan stood, one arm crossed over his chest, his hand propping up his elbow while he stroked his beard. Senator Amidala sat beside the Togruta, leaning forward. All of their eyes snapped to Vespera when she entered the room.
"I figured I should properly introduce myself," she announced. "I'm Vespera Stellavis, and I want to help you investigate who shot your ship down."
Anakin raised his eyebrows. "I'm Anakin, that's Padme, and that's Ahsoka. From what we know, you've already met Obi-Wan."
"Have you looked at the datacard yet?" Vespera turned to Obi-Wan after offering Ahsoka and Padme a dip of her head in greeting.
"I have, but I haven't shown them yet," said Obi-Wan.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" Anakin demanded.
Vespera lifted a brow. "Not so much a change of my heart but a movement to convince my council."
She folded her arms as Obi-Wan stuck the datacard into a datapad. He gestured for everyone to gather around. Vespera drew close to him, their shoulders brushing as they peered down at the datapad screen. Ahsoka peeked at it by Vespera's elbow while Padme and Anakin shadowed Obi-Wan's left.
"This is all the information my guards and systems investigated of the crash. There's a simulation of the crash that measures the trajectory to determine where the blast came from." Vespera tapped the screen to pull up the simulation.
"Was there any information on the blast that could tell us what kind of blaster was used?" Anakin queried.
"It seems like it was constructed and designed by hand," said Vespera.
"So, we're looking for some sort of weapons expert?" Ahsoka guessed.
"Possibly," said Vespera. "Someone intelligent."
"Looks like the blast came from this area," said Anakin, gesturing on the datapad.
Padme turned her gaze away from the datapad. "Do you know if there's anything important in that area of the city? A building of importance, or height?"
Vespera's stomach churned. "Councilman Cathal's estate is located in that area." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "We must keep our investigation as secretive as possible. If Councilman Cathal is involved…"
"It complicates things," said Ahsoka, placing her hands on her hips.
"Exactly. We can go tomorrow morning."
"Why does everything have to be a secret? If people in your council are working against you, you should investigate and they should know you don't tolerate it." Padme's brow furrowed.
Vespera managed a smile. Senator Amidala's status as a political powerhouse in the Republic Senate reached even Azyrion. They shared idealism in their traits, but here, Padme's tendency for idealism was not realistic. Vespera learned that the hard way a long time ago.
"I'm afraid things aren't that simple here."
"Why not?" Anakin demanded. Vespera darted her gaze to Obi-Wan before quickly looking away.
Drawing in a deep breath, Vespera said, "The short of it is that queens on Azyrion do not have the same power as kings. My council act less like advisors and more like manipulators."
"So you're a figurehead," Anakin surmised.
"Anakin," hissed Padme, her eyes hardening as she stared at him.
A bitter smile blossomed across Vespera's lips. "He has a point. My council and husband try to make me a figurehead, though it's difficult to control a figurehead who talks back. I'm not entirely powerless. But, it would be helpful for me to keep our findings secret until we're sure of the culprit."
Anakin, Ahsoka, Padme, and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance. Vespera sensed the connection the four of them shared—even without Padme being a Jedi—and a deep loneliness reared its head in her chest.
"Alright." Obi-Wan's voice was gentle, and he lowered his hand from his beard. He dipped his head and Vespera relaxed.
"In the meantime, I'd like to treat you all to dinner. We can't start investigating until tomorrow anyway, and it's been a long day."
…
The guest dining chamber resembled the rest of the palace in its design, with gilded arabesques on the edges of the wall and tops of the marble pillars. A delicate chandelier hung above the table, and two portraits of past monarchs graced the pale green walls on either side of the table. Vespera entered the dining chamber to find Ahsoka, Anakin, and Padme already examining the portraits.
"It says this is King Andreas Filiustella." Ahsoka squinted at the small plaque underneath the portrait of the past king.
"King Alvaro Filiustella and Queen Agata Filiustella," Anakin added, gesturing to the portraits of the husband and wife.
"Queen Eviana Visar," said Padme, tilting her head at the queen with midnight hair and dark eyes.
"Supposedly all monarchs can trace their lineage back to the first monarchs," said Vespera, drawing Ahsoka's, Anakin's, and Padme's eyes to her. "The Stellavis line can trace all the way back to the Stellum and Visar line for sure. Our lines merged under Queen Eviana Visar to form Stellavis. It makes my line particularly noble." Vespera allowed for a hint of sarcasm to darken her tone. The whole idea of nobility and divine right unnerved her. Her blood did not equal her ability to lead an entire system of people.
"The architecture here is stunning," said Padme, gesturing to the gilded arabesques on the wall.
Vespera smiled. "Azyrion prizes art above anything else, whether in architecture, music, writing, or other visual arts."
"Do you have any festivals?" Padme queried. "Naboo has this beautiful one called the Festival of Lights. Its my favorite time of year."
"We have many holidays and festivals," said Vespera. "There's a three-day festival for theatre coming up, actually. One of my favorites is the Bloom Festival. All the flowers are beautiful, and there's this parade…" She trailed off, her chest throbbing with a dull ache.
"A beautiful crown for a beautiful queen." Dorian placed the circlet of pink flowers on Vespera's head. She grinned and gripped his hands in hers. They intertwined their fingers. Dorian bent closer until his lips touched her ear. "Forever until the stars burn out, my love."
"Until the stars burn, and beyond."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Vespera greeted Obi-Wan with a slight smile when he entered the room. They sat down to eat, and Vespera's stomach knotted when Callan entered. She stood in greeting, and Callan stood at the end of the table.
"Unfortunately, I will not be joining all of you tonight, though I'm sure my wife's company will be satisfactory enough."
Vespera worked her jaw as she held Callan's gaze.
"Queen Vespera has been very gracious," said Padme. Thank the Maker for Senator Amidala and her proclivity for smooth-talking.
"Good. She is the face of this system. If you'll excuse me…" Callan exited the dining chamber. Vespera curled her fingers and pressed her knuckles into the table before seating herself. Her wrist throbbed with the ghost of Callan's grip.
"I guess the king isn't too happy about our presence," said Anakin, grinning awkwardly.
Vespera snorted. "The king is never happy."
"Well that's certainly no fun," Obi-Wan crowed.
Vespera squared her shoulders. "I'm afraid ruling an entire system is not usually fun."
"Not many opportunities for adventure as a politician," said Ahsoka.
Vespera's lips quirked. "I don't know about that. I've heard Senator Amidala has managed to get involved in quite a bit of adventure."
Padme flushed. "Sometimes being a good politician means investigating things yourself."
"I couldn't agree more," Vespera beamed.
"Your majesty, can I ask you something?" Ahsoka queried.
Vespera's brow puckered. "You can call me Vespera."
"Vespera… Why did you leave the Jedi?"
Drawing in a shaky breath, Vespera squared her shoulders. She stood and approached the camera in the right corner of the room. Placing a finger over her lips, she disabled the camera and turned to Ahsoka, whose mouth fell open.
"I'm afraid not every room in this palace is safe from watching eyes and ears."
"I'm sorry, I should've—"
"It's alright. I'll erase the footage later."
Anakin scowled. "What's so dangerous about people knowing?"
"There was a time where my people were strong with the Force, but too many abused its power. Eventually, only the royal bloodline possessed a sensitivity for the Force, and anyone else born with it was exterminated. It took one queen—one Force-sensitive queen—to destroy all of that. They say she was mad, sadistic… She used the Force to do terrible things for the fun of it. To stop that from ever happening again, there was a witch hunt. And queens lost their authority." Vespera's lips twitched sadly. "I pay the price for being a queen. I don't want to pay the price for my strength in the Force."
"Why'd you even leave the Jedi, then?" Ahsoka whispered. "Master Kenobi said that Master Plo was your master. Why'd you leave if its so terrible here?"
Vespera picked at her fingernails. The young Padawan was so full of questions that demanded thoughtful answers. But to provide such answers required Vespera to dig through years of anguish that she kept buried.
"There was no heir to the throne. My sister… Princess Elysia…" Vespera swallowed the lump in her throat and raised her head. Obi-Wan, Padme, Anakin, and Ahsoka stared at her. "Elysia died. My parents knew that if I did not take my place as queen, there would be a power vacuum."
"Oh," Obi-Wan murmured. "That room… It was your sister's, wasn't it?"
"Yes." Vespera's shoulders dropped.
"I'm sorry." Ahsoka's face creased with a forlorn frown.
"I didn't know my sister very well. I mourned the loss of the Jedi more than my sister." Vespera smiled bitterly.
"Why'd your parents ask you back if they knew you'd just be controlled by a council and your husband?" Anakin demanded.
Vespera stiffened. Now that was a question with a loaded answer. But as much as she wanted to, Vespera could not blindly trust Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, or Ahsoka. They still belonged to the Republic, and Vespera's loyalties lied first and foremost with Azyrion, despite her past as a Jedi and servant of the Republic. "They would rather the royal bloodline remain in power, even with a queen."
Anakin grimaced. "But it won't be the Stellavis line, right?"
"It would shift to Acheron, yes," said Vespera. The thought of bearing Callan's children wrinkled her nose. "But we could still trace the bloodline to past monarchs. My mother came from Mandalore, but my father was part of the bloodline, and his father before him."
"Your mother was Mandalorian?" Obi-Wan furrowed his brow.
"Yes. It was actually pretty scandalous that she and my father married," Vespera returned to her seat. "They weren't an arranged marriage, and she was considered an outsider."
"You do look kind of Mandalorian," Ahsoka said, tilting her head.
"I resemble my mother more," Vespera allowed. "My sister looked more like my father."
"How'd your sister die?" Anakin queried around a mouthful of food.
"I'd rather not talk about it. If you'll excuse me…" Vespera stood and left them in the dining chamber. Clutching her stomach, Vespera hurried to the security room that monitored the guest sector of the palace.
"Your majesty," said the guard, standing.
"I'd like a moment alone, please," Vespera breathed. The guard lingered in the doorway.
"I'm not supposed to leave—"
"I'll only be a moment," said Vespera. The guard ducked out reluctantly. Vespera pulled up the footage of the dining chamber. She enabled the audio.
"Really smooth, Master," said Ahsoka, leaning back in her chair.
"I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal!" Anakin protested. "She said she wasn't close with her sister!"
"You've seen what it's like here," said Padme, burying her face in her hands. "Maybe she's not allowed to discuss it."
Obi-Wan said nothing, instead covering his mouth as he leaned forward in thought. Vespera withdrew from the live feedback and rewound the footage to Ahsoka's question. Vespera erased the conversation and slipped out of the security room. Her heart fluttering like a trapped animal, Vespera retired to her quarters.
The sitting room appeared spotless. The cream-colored settee and couch looked fluffed, and a new bouquet of flowers garnished the white marble table. Vespera slipped past the white pillars that adorned the sides of the doorway and entered the bedchamber. The periwinkle walls and gold garnishments complimented the canopy bed and white marble floors, worlds away from the humble bedroom Vespera once occupied at the Jedi Temple.
"My lady!"
Smiling, Vespera turned and gripped the hands of her handmaiden. "Neve!"
Neve beamed at Vespera. "I leave for one day, and three Jedi crash on the planet! Are you alright?"
Vespera's shoulders dropped as she sighed. "I believe so. I have to admit that I'm intrigued by them."
"I'm sure the king is displeased."
"Oh, yes. But I've managed to convince him to let me keep an eye on the Jedi and the Senator by investigating who shot them down."
"Someone shot them down?"
"Yes. And unfortunately, we think whoever is responsible did so from Councilman Cathal's estate."
Neve sank into a chair. "That's certainly troubling. Do you think Cathal would really do such a thing?"
Vespera snorted. "There's no telling what the council is capable of. They've been getting bolder with their blatant disrespect."
"Do you think they'll try to seize more power?"
"They already have most of it," laughed Vespera, though there was no real humor in her words. She crossed to the window and folded her arms. The darkness outside prevented her from glimpsing the gardens and the sea. Instead, her own reflection stared back at her.
"But you still have final say in times of war and are the face of Azyrion. You represent us in The Council of Neutral Systems. If they seize your power…"
Vespera turned. "But we were unanimous in voting for neutrality. I don't know why my council would want me to not represent them. Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"Unless not everyone wants to remain neutral in this war. That would explain why they shot down a Republic ship."
"Would they want to join the Separatists?"
"I have no idea," said Vespera. "As a neutral system, we're supposed to be loyal to the Galactic Senate. If some of the council wish to join the Separatists, then that explains why they'd shoot down a Republic ship, and why they're so hostile to anyone of the Republic landing here."
"Well, I hope you get to the bottom of this. I don't want Azyrion dragged into a pointless war."
Vespera turned back to the window and fiddled with her necklace. "Me neither."
…
Vespera met Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Padme near the ship hangar of the palace. She led them down a level and toward one of the exits of the palace. Descending the steps that kissed a canal, Vespera gestured for her companions to enter a canoe-shaped aquatic cruiser. Vespera took to steering once everyone entered the craft. The cruiser sped over the canals that cut through the city before curving toward the outskirts of Azolos. Nestled in the space between the city and the forest loomed Cathal's estate. Vespera parked the cruiser by the steps of the estate.
"You best hide yourselves and do what you do best," Vespera said to Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka. "Cathal won't be happy that there are Jedi here, so do try and not get caught."
"What will you do?" Anakin queried.
"Senator Amidala and I will distract Councilman Cathal."
"Sounds good to me," said Ahsoka, stretching.
"Use these," Vespera divvied out special earpieces and commlinks. "They're difficult to be tapped into. I don't think anything dangerous will happen, but just in case…"
The commlinks were older, but Vespera never used any equipment more reliable. Dorian designed them a long time ago, and she trusted their reliability. Vespera and Padme split up from the Jedi and approached the front entrance of the estate. A droid greeted them and led them into a sitting parlor, where marble pillars that resembled the ones at the palace adorned the room. Sheer drapes fluttered in the breeze, leaving the parlor open to the warm elements.
While the droid vanished to retrieve Councilman Cathal, Padme leaned forward. "Anything I should know about Cathal before we meet him?"
Vespera shrugged. "He's one of my nicer councilors, though he's extremely traditional in his views."
"How traditional?"
Vespera's smile failed to reach her eyes. "I suppose you could call his misogyny covert."
"Oh," said Padme, her face dropping, "great."
"Your majesty!" Cathal's wavering voice interrupted Vespera's attempt to reassure Padme. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
Vespera stood to greet Cathal and gestured for Padme to follow suit. "Councilman Cathal, this is Senator Padme Amidala."
Cathal's dark eyes cut to Padme before meeting Vespera's. "Your majesty, is it wise to affiliate with Republic Senators like this? It could bring the Separatists down upon us—"
"Councilman Cathal, need I remind you that while Azyrion has opted to remain neutral in this conflict, we are still part of the Galactic Senate and owe them our loyalty?"
Cathal swallowed noisily. "Yes. Of course. My sincerest apologies. Please, sit."
Vespera returned to her seat, as did Padme. "Senator Amidala is not here of her own free will in the first place. Her ship was shot down, remember? I thought it would be nice to show her the city while her ship is getting repaired."
"Ah, of course. The Jedi did not wish to join you?"
"They remained at the palace. The gardens there are apparently a prime spot for meditation," Vespera lied easily. It was partly true—the gardens provided a Force-sensitive individual a serene place to connect with the Force.
Cathal narrowed his eyes. "You did not stay with them? They could be wandering about—"
"And what would they find, Cathal?"
"Nothing, of course." Cathal twisted his plump body to the droid. "Get us some refreshments." The droid shuffled off, and Cathal faced Padme. "How are you enjoying the city, Miss Amidala?"
Vespera narrowed her eyes at Cathal's blatant disregard for Padme's proper title. Padme, however, carried on as if she did not notice.
"Azolos is beautiful. It reminds me a bit of my home on Naboo."
"Yes, I imagine so. I've been to Theed, and the two cities share some similarities, though our canal streets are quite the staple, wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh, yes."
"And Azolos is just one of many cities on Azyrion. Were you here for pleasure and not business, I would suggest you visit Verdella. The architecture there is incredibly unique and even during winter, it is one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy."
"I can only imagine."
The droid returned with a platter of tea. Vespera grabbed a cup and sipped from it. She nearly spat it out when Cathal said, "Tell me, Miss Amidala, do you have children?"
"Not yet, I'm afraid. I'd like to one day, but with the war, it seems like an improbable time."
"Are you married?"
Padme's smile froze for a fraction. "No."
Vespera stopped, her teacup halfway to her lips. Was Cathal really doing this now? To a Republic Senator?
"I'm not sure how the system in Naboo works, but what happens when you need an heir?"
Padme's eyes flicked to Vespera's before she said, "Naboo elects its own leaders, so we don't have children for heirs."
"Ah. Azyrion does so differently. We all excitedly await the day when our queen presents us with an heir to continue her rule with King Callan." Cathal beamed at Vespera, whose mouth twitched with the weakest smile she could muster. "Tell me, Miss Amidala—"
"Senator," Vespera corrected coldly. Cathal widened his eyes at her. "She is Senator Amidala."
Cathal cleared his throat. "Senator Amidala, my apologies—"
Pounding footsteps broke off Cathal's apology. A young man—Cathal's son—burst into the room with Anakin and Ahsoka hot on his heels. The man knocked over a small table, shattering the teapot that the droid left for Cathal, Vespera, and Padme to refill their teacups. Obi-Wan rounded the corner and stood in the young man's path. Anakin grabbed the man's wrists and pinned them behind his back.
"You're under arrest!"
"Father, help me!" cried the young man—Vespera recalled his name as Valerius—scrambling to release himself from Anakin's grip. Cathal jumped to his feet.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Sorry, Councilman, but Valerius here is the one who shot our ship down, and we'd like to know why." Anakin curled his lip at Valerius.
Cathal wheeled on Vespera. "These Jedi scum have no authority here, tell them—"
"They are here on my authority, Cathal," Vespera replied quietly. Cathal's mouth fell open.
"You tricked me?"
"The council advised discretion in this investigation. Your son can either come quietly and you can keep your place on my council, or the both of you can make an uproar and you will lose every ounce of credibility you have. It's your choice."
Cathal bared his teeth, but went to his son and placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Calm, Val. We will find a way out of this." Cathal turned to Vespera. "King Callan will not stand for such treachery. Your days as queen are numbered." Then, he spat on the floor at Vespera's feet.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Padme widened their eyes, but Vespera did not flinch, despite the heat creeping up her neck. "I would keep your threats to yourself, Cathal. You're the one entering treacherous territory." She turned to Obi-Wan. "Let's interrogate him back at the palace."
Turning away, Vespera held her head high as she returned to the cruiser. She would not let Cathal make her feel inferior, especially in front of others. But something in the back of her mind did raise its head—if Cathal could blatantly disrespect her in front of a Republic Senator, and seem sure that King Callan would take his side, what was her council planning against her?
…
Oh my gosh, thank you all for such kind comments! Sorry if updates are not super fast—this is my last semester in graduate school, and I'm working on my creative writing thesis and have an exit exam coming up, so those obviously come first. I'll try to post at least every two weeks, but you know, life comes up. Anyway, thank you guys so much for the support, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!