CHAPTER 5:

CLASH AT ITALICA

As he paced the parapet later that night, Anakin had to admit he was troubled. They were facing hundreds of bandits at the very least, and while Anakin was confident in his ability to take on some, he wasn't so sure about taking more on. If he had more of his fellow Jedi around, it'd be another matter. He was almost certain that the bandits would attack the east gate, and had brought his concerns to Pina, who rebuffed him, to his annoyance. Padme would have listened. Still, he had the walkie-talkie with him, and at the very least, he could summon Rory.

As he walked from the parapet above the east gate, he found himself wondering whether they could win. Out loud, he murmured, "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Don't centre on your anxieties, Anakin. Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs."

The voice sounded oddly familiar, with a strange, slight echo to it. Anakin frowned. He turned around saying, "But Master Yoda said I should be mindful…of the…future?" He stared at the apparition before him, looking at him warmly and serenely.

"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, young Padawan." Then, Qui-Gon Jinn, outlined in blue light and transparent, smiled softly. Those familiar leonine features were opening up hidden wounds in Anakin's soul. "Ah, it was like ten years ago, Anakin, shortly before we met you, only, you spoke Obi-Wan's words(1)."

"Qui-Gon?! This must be a trick!" Anakin snarled.

"No. Search your feelings, Anakin. This is no trick."

And Anakin did. And he realised, albeit reluctantly, that it was no trick. That this apparition was, indeed, Qui-Gon Jinn. "…Master Qui-Gon. But…what is this? How can you be here?"

"In rather simple terms, I allowed myself to join with the Force when the Sith slew me…but I was able to retain my sense of self, releasing myself rather than exalting it," Qui-Gon said. "I had not planned to manifest myself to you, but…it seems that fate had brought you here."

Anakin, after a moment, asked, "Master Qui-Gon…Obi-Wan…is he safe?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Yes. Like you, he was forced to make landfall on another world. Kashyyyk, to be precise. The Wookies will help him out. For now, you are stranded…but perhaps this is for the best."

"For the best?" Anakin asked, flatly.

The older Jedi nodded, his leonine face becoming a little lugubrious. "I will see what I can do to bring your survival to their attention, even if they are sceptical as to who and what I am. I have to wonder, Anakin…did I err in bringing you to the Order's attention? Did I err in believing you to be the Chosen One? I don't doubt your abilities and power, only my interpretation of them. Or perhaps my error was in taking you away from your mother. Perhaps I should have pressured Watto more." He shook his head. "Of course, it does not do to dwell on what has been or could have been at the expense of the moment. Even I make such mistakes."

Anakin chuckled. "You are probably the only Jedi Knight or Master who has said such a thing."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "No. Everyone has made mistakes. And while admitting them is another matter, well, there is a story involving my old Master Dooku, a vat of nutrient slurry, and a deathstick dealer you should ask Obi-Wan about one day." A smirk briefly touched Qui-Gon's lips for a moment, before it became solemn once more. "I believe you can do some good for this world, and Earth. And in turn, the events here may do you good as well. You and I are both mavericks of a sort. The true test, then, is balance, as it is with all things."

"Then…it is right for me to defend the people of this town?"

"You should not doubt that. Not all of the men who come to attack are evil…but many are. They are rapacious, with an urge to sacrifice the lives of innocents to Emroy. The Apostle would disagree. There is a darkness within her, one she revels in, but she is no Sith. She has a strong sense of justice, and I believe she will teach you much. But don't forget your teachings with the Order either. View this world and Earth as being a new classroom, as much as every world in our galaxy was. There are many paths you can take from here, Anakin. Remember the Light…even if you don't remain a Jedi…"

Before Anakin could question what Qui-Gon meant by that, the ghostly figure had faded. He realised, with a start, that Pina was there, watching him from the distance, looking pale. "Who was that?" she asked.

"A shade from the past," Anakin said, a little sullenly. "Why were you eavesdropping?"

"I followed you because you were straying too far away from the gate," Pina said apologetically. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Anakin just shot her a glare, before walking back to the gate area. But then, he saw a fusillade of flame arrows shoot up into the sky towards the east gate. He dashed over, and used the Force to halt the arrows in mid-air. He arrived at the gate, Pina and a blond knight, Norma, staring at him in astonishment. "…What magic is this?"

"It's the Force," Anakin said, before he glared at the astonished bandits below, many cowering beneath shields. "You seek to rape and pillage this city?!" he roared at the bandits. "Not as long as I draw breath!" With that, he sent the arrows back. Many bounced off the shields, but a number of them died. A few were reflected by a bluish-green glow in the distance, silhouetting a figure.

"A magic user!" Norma hissed. "They're protecting them from the arrows."

Anakin nodded grimly, before reaching for the walkie-talkie as the other people began attacking the bandits. "Itami, this is Anakin. The bandits seem to be attacking the east gate en masse. Are there signs of bandits at your gate?"

"Nope. Saw some scouts earlier. You want us to come around? Over."

Anakin looked at Pina, who shook her head. Anakin scowled at her recalcitrance, before saying, "Send Rory around for now. Have you got any reinforcements coming?"

"Just got word that air support's taken off from Alnus Base. They'll be here shortly, but you've got to hold them off until then. Over."

"Right. I'm probably going to be in the thick of the fighting, so try to get your air support forces to avoid shooting me."

"I'll tell them to look out for your lightsaber, but you'd better get the hell out of there when the time comes anyway. We don't want any friendly fire. Over."

"What's friendly fire?" Pina asked.

"Allies attacking each other, on purpose or by accident," Anakin said, before handing her the walkie-talkie. "Now, if things look like they're going to hell, then call up Itami and get him to come over. And don't let your pride get in the way!"

"Don't speak to Her Highness like that!" snapped Norma. However, something screamed at Anakin, and his hand snapped out, grabbing an arrow mere inches away from Norma's head.

Anakin's blue eyes narrowed at Norma. But his next words were addressed to Pina. "Well?"

"…Yes, I will call them."

"Good." Anakin shucked off the outer layer of his robes, and then leapt off the parapet, lightsaber lashing out as he landed. He allowed the Force to guide his movements, a danse macabre that the bandits were invited to.

He was unaware of how much time he had spent attacking them, only to be broken out of his reverie by a chorus of yells of terror, the most coherent of which was, "IT'S RORY THE REAPER!"

Then, as the bandits stopped attacking, Anakin heard her purr, in a disturbingly lascivious tone, "Aww, you started the party without me, Anakin." Rory stood next to Anakin, plunging the shaft of her halberd into the ground, and smirked at them.

"Lady Mercury!" one of the bandits yelled in the local language. "We are here to send these offerings to Emroy! Help us! We make these sacrifices in your name!"

Rory began to giggle, then chuckle, and then laugh, before she wiped a tear away from her eye. "Oh, sorry, I just…you really are so stupid." In an instant, her face became filled with a cold hatred, her crimson eyes glaring at them. "You lie to yourselves, claiming these are done for Emroy, but in truth, all you wish is to slake your lust for blood and rape. You lie to yourselves, and thus taint your souls." She pulled out her halberd, and pointed it at them. "The only thing I will help you with is your journey to Emroy's embrace. And trust me, for your sins…that embrace will be far from gentle."

With that, Anakin and Rory leapt into battle. As they did so, Anakin noted Rory's fighting style, now that she was letting go. She was a thing of beauty in combat, filled with savage grace. It was more of a dance than even their spar had been. And she revelled in the violence in a way Anakin never would.

At one point, they came across the mage, and to his surprise, it was a petite teenaged girl with hair that looked more like a mass of feathers, bird-like feet, and feathered arms. She stared at them in horror and fear…but there was no malice in her mind, Anakin felt. A prisoner, he realised, a slave forced to do their bidding. So he said one word. "Surrender."

She nodded, eyeing his lightsaber in fear. And then, in the distance, in the faint light of the coming dawn, they heard music. Strings and horns beginning to swell up, and a regular thwopping noise.

"Rory, that's our cue!" Anakin yelled as he saw the outlines in the sky of some sort of aerial vehicle.

Rory nodded, and, with Anakin grabbing the feathered girl, they fled for the gate, Anakin using a Force Jump to get back onto the parapet, and Rory using her own strength. Itami and the others were charging up the steps, having apparently been summoned by Pina. "What's that music?" Rory asked, squirming in a way that made Anakin uncomfortable. "I love it."

"Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner," Itami said. "A bit clichéd, but…" He looked at the girl Anakin was lowering to the parapet. "What's with the harpy girl?"

"I'm a Siren, not a harpy," the girl retorted.

"She's a prisoner," Anakin said. "She surrendered."

"But these fools haven't," Rory remarked, looking out at the bandit army. "Princess, please attend carefully. These are the people your father attempted to conquer."

Anakin watched grimly on as the flying vehicles, helicopters (VTOL aircraft using rotors), began firing their weapons at the bandits. It was an unmitigated slaughter, and the bandits were soon decimated. Primitive though they were, the guns were very effective. Though no doubt, if Obi-Wan was here to see it, he'd be clucking about how 'uncivilised' it was. Then again, Anakin knew that his master would prefer to see the people of Italica safe, more than quibbling about the civility of combat.

Soon, the bandits were dead. Pina was staring at the bodies left behind in horror, as were the other members of her Rose Knights…those who weren't vomiting, anyway. Still, the people of Italica in general were elated at their salvation from the bandits. The roar of triumph they collectively emitted would put a stadium of Wookies to shame.

Sensing the turmoil in the princess' mind, Anakin walked over to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder gently. "I know what you're thinking. The JSDF aren't here to conquer, any more than I am. They fought for the people of this city, and I believe the only compensation they will want are treaties of trade and peace."

He was, admittedly, stretching the truth a little. He recalled a few people back at Alnus Hill who seemed to have thoughts of greed and avarice in their hearts, including a man called Yanagida. But for the most part, the JSDF seemed to have genuinely altruistic reasons. But his words, not even enhanced with the Force, had a noticeable effect on Pina. She relaxed a little.

"It's just…it's just that…I left them at the north and south gates as decoys…expendable. Why would they view me with any kind of good will after all that?" she asked quietly.

"…They seem to have forgiven you. They knew that anyway, but not only did they go along with that, but they also came to help. Pina, they won't hold you to account for your father's crimes. I've seen an invasion, more than one…and I don't think they are truly invading." He thought back to Naboo, and the missions he had accompanied Obi-Wan on. It wasn't quite an invasion. With Naboo, the Trade Federation were the aggressors, supposedly over some tax issue or other, and while they wanted to force Padme to sign a treaty, it was more to rubberstamp their invasion and to allow them to subjugate the populace, or something.

"I hope you are right," Pina said quietly, looking out at the road, littered with corpses of bandits. "Regardless of what they intend, I know one thing. My father has made a most grievous mistake…"

CHAPTER 5 ANNOTATIONS:

Yes. Yes he has.

And Anakin and Rory got to take on a bandit army by themselves. Because frankly, we need more of Anakin being a badass instead of a whiny ass. Well, before he got Vader'd, anyway. Or should that be Mustafar Fried Anakin?

I actually got the notion that the battle scene here should have accompanying music, like the Flame Dragon fight…but not a Star Wars bit of music. Instead, I think the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children version of Those Who Fight would work. Or maybe the HR version of Shall Never Surrender from Devil May Cry 4.

As for Qui-Gon, well, we know he was keeping an eye on Anakin around the time of Episode II, so, why not a cameo from his Force Ghost?

Review-answering time! Blazblade: Having Zorzal die would probably have Molt use that as a casus belli, to start up war again, even at heavy cost to his citizens. Molt would miss him, if only because Zorzal is his heir, and one he intended to manipulate from behind the scenes after abdicating, from what I've heard. Still, Anakin will use the Force to disarm the guards, to make a point…and as for Tyuule, well, wait and see. ;)

As for Itami and company's lack of reaction to Anakin, keep in mind, they've already fanboyed out over Tuka and Rory. To them, at least initially, he just looks like a monk. They didn't realise what he was until he discussed things with them. Compared to all the fantasy beings they've met so far, a monk from outer space wielding a laser sword is a bit mundane by comparison…at least until they see him fighting the Flame Dragon, anyway.

Rory and Yoda WILL speak to each other, albeit briefly, in the very next chapter. Well, it's mostly Rory trolling Yoda. And yes, if I do do a sequel set around Episodes II and III, Rory will be fighting alongside Anakin and the Jedi. As for the whole Japanese nationalism and treatment of other countries in GATE issue, well, the stuff around the visit to Japan will still happen (as in the US, China and Russia trying to kidnap the Special Region visitors), but once the Galactic Republic make themselves known…well, it won't be all sunshine and roses, true, but the whole international jockeying over resources will become less of an issue. Especially when they can travel to the Special Region world, or any other world, via hyperspace.

Evolution: God, no! Unless somehow she was aged up to an adult body, I wouldn't include Rory in any kind of pairing.

1. I used, albeit modified, some of the first dialogue from Episode I, as Qui-Gon himself notes.