CHAPTER 6:

RESPONSIBILITY

Anakin supposed he was grateful that the Japanese had a form of convention for prisoners of war. He'd helped interrogate them, using the Force. Many he wanted to end right then and there, despite the treaty that the JSDF were working out, but a few, he knew, had joined the bandits out of desperation, or else were forced to, like the Siren, whose name was Myuute Luna Sires.

However, apparently Itami had been summoned back to his homeworld, to speak before the governing body of his country, the Japanese Diet. Rory, Lelei and Tuka were considering going with him. Anakin wondered whether he should join the Japanese soldier. After all, making first contact with a relatively primitive society was one thing, but to a society that had already, according to Itami, Hazama, and the other JSDF soldier, primitive spaceflight and nuclear weapons? Then again, he had technically made first contact with them already. So maybe he should go along with it.

While waiting to leave, Anakin spoke with some of the people of Italica. It seemed that Count Formal, the former ruler of these parts, had a hobby of 'collecting' demi-humans, what they called sentient beings with animal-like features, like the Catgirls, Medusae, or the Bunny Warriors. In truth, Formal actually made Italica a safe haven for many of them, especially the Bunny Warriors. Apparently they had been conquered a few years back by Pina's oldest brother, Zorzal El Caesar. Supposedly, their queen had betrayed them, willingly becoming Zorzal's concubine to save her own skin, and most of the Bunny Warriors were enslaved or murdered. One of the Bunny Warriors, a rather lovely brunette by the name of Delilah, had made a vow to kill Tyuule herself. She wasn't the only one, true, but she seemed the most venomous. No doubt one of the Jedi would have had some pithy remark to say about hatred and anger being a path to the Dark Side…but Anakin knew pain better than some. The Bunny Warriors were not Jedi, though he was sure that they could give a few Jedi a run for their money, especially with a lightsaber in hand.

After learning from the princess that some of her forces were making their way to Italica, Anakin, with a sense for trouble brewing, had asked Itami and his team to remain in Italica long enough to head off any such trouble. Pina agreed, as she realised that the leader of these forces, Bozes Co Palesti, was something of a hothead who may jump to the wrong conclusion.

Certainly, Bozes' arrival, in conjunction with the other Rose Knights, was rather tense, and only Pina's presence and explanation kept things from escalating. Eventually, Pina made the decision to head to Alnus Hill herself, and potentially to Japan, in order to speak to the JSDF authorities, and maybe to a representative of the Japanese government. Bozes decided to accompany her, apparently looking to atone for her earlier verbal tirade, especially once Itami and Anakin made it clear that Bozes using her body as payment would be refused by the JSDF or the Jedi Padawan.

As they made their way back to Alnus Hill, Anakin took the time to speak to Lelei, who was asking more and more, not just about the Force and the Jedi, but also about the Republic and the various worlds within Anakin's galaxy. He had discussed some things with her earlier, but he continued what were less lessons and more like discussions. Rory and Tuka listened in.

However, soon after they arrived back, they were told that they would be heading through the Gate on the morrow. Anakin took that as an opportunity to continue working on the long-range comms. By luck good or bad, he managed to get it working later that night…

Anakin started in surprise as the carrier signal of the comms activated. Hoping against all hope, he activated the frequency for the main comms switchboard of the Jedi Temple. A male Rutian Twilek, one Anakin didn't recognise, appeared from the small holoprojector. The Twilek said, "We are receiving you…oh? Padawan Skywalker?" The tone was surprised, and relieved.

"Yes. May I be patched through to the relevant person?" Anakin asked, not sure who to ask for in this case.

The Twilek nodded, and disappeared for a number of seconds. Then, when the holoprojector showed an image again, it was of a familiar, large-eared Jedi Grandmaster. "Padawan Skywalker…a relief, this is!"

"Master Yoda," Anakin said, giving as much of a respectful bow as he could from a sitting position. Despite his irritation with the Jedi Order and its leadership for holding him back, he was as relieved to speak to Yoda as the diminutive Grandmaster was, given his tone. "Forgive me for not communicating any sooner, but I have run into considerable difficulties."

"A master of understatement, you are," Yoda remarked(1). "Alive and well, your Master is."

"I know, Master Yoda. He's on Kashyyyk," Anakin said.

"Hmm? And how do you know this, young Padawan?"

"I'm not sure you would believe me, with all due respect, Master Yoda."

The green-skinned creature harrumphed. "Little respect is due for the most part, when people say that. Still, another time, you can tell. More important matters need to be discussed."

"Indeed, Master Yoda. I should begin by saying that I have made first contact with two pre-hyperspatial civilisations. One of whom tried to invade the other via a transdimensional gateway…"

After Anakin relayed the salient points, Yoda closed his eyes and contemplated what he had said. "Better, you could have done," he began quietly. "But under trying times, you have done well, young Padawan." Yoda reached over, and checked a computer system next to his chair. "But not in another galaxy, this world is. In the Fath Sector, it resides(2). According to your signal, that is."

Anakin frowned. One of the lesser-charted regions of the Outer Rim, if he recalled. "So I'm not stranded."

"No." Yoda looked over at Anakin. "Young Padawan, listen well. The Separatist Movement, the Jedi are investigating. We have few Jedi to spare. Therefore, Anakin Skywalker, this I admonish you. Be the face of the Jedi to these people of these worlds. A paragon you must be. And be careful, you must. For to expose these people to too much advanced technology may prove troublesome, even to these Japanese."

"You are leaving me here?" Anakin asked incredulously.

"Young Skywalker, time it would take to arrange for someone else. A mission, then, you should consider this. For more responsibility, you wished," Yoda said. "Be our emissary. A starfighter we will send soon, manned with an astrodroid. Regular reports, we expect."

Anakin nodded. They weren't abandoning him. They were making this his mission. "I will do my best, Master Yoda. But what of the JSDF? If they desire an ambassador from Coruscant…"

"Cross that bridge when we come to it, we shall," Yoda said. "And take care, what technology you reveal to them. Still…bring this comms device to Earth. Their location, we can pinpoint. And diplomatic overtures, we may begin…"

"Ooh, what's this? Did you fix it?" Rory said, choosing that moment to skip into his tent, and she gurned at the holographic image of Yoda. "…So, who might you be?"

"Ah…Grandmaster Yoda, meet Rory Mercury, the Apostle of Emroy. Rory Mercury, meet Yoda, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order," Anakin said.

"Ah…the Apostle, you are," Yoda said politely, if warily.

"Oh, you're the old Jedi Anakin was speaking about. I've got one really important question to ask, Yoda." A smirk touched her lips. "How often do you moisturise?"

Anakin tried, and failed miserably, to keep the smirk off his own lips when Yoda, not prepared for such a facetious statement, spluttered, before he said, "Not at all! All natural, this is! And clearly too much time, you spend grooming. Most unbecoming of a priestess, it is."

Yoda's bit of snark only made Rory smirk even more. "You're just jealous because my religious garments are more stylish than yours. Nice meeting you!"

As she left the tent, Yoda remarked, "Away from that one, you should stay…"

As he got ready the next morning, the reality of the responsibility Yoda had placed on him came down. Anakin realised that this was something of a test, to see if Anakin was ready for more responsibility. Because to be involved in not just one but two first contact situations was a huge responsibility.

Anakin actually felt nervous. Still, after Rory's interruption, he and Yoda got to talking about Lelei. Anakin had already seen magic in action, and felt that it was different from how Jedi or even the Sith used the Force. Yoda actually chuckled warmly at Anakin saying that they were learning from each other, and to tell the truth, Anakin never felt so well-inclined towards Yoda as he did during that part of the conversation. "When a Padawan you have, the joys of teaching you shall know," Yoda had said with an impish smirk on his face.

As he thought back to his conversation, Anakin had to wonder…did the Jedi Order still have something for him? In truth, until he came here, by happenstance, he never quite felt fulfilled. And yet, here…it felt right. Was it because he was away from Obi-Wan? No, that wasn't it. As much as they had their differences, especially with Obi-Wan's kriffing lectures, Obi-Wan was the closest thing he had to a father. Obi-Wan, for all his stifling nature at times, also did his best to guide Anakin gently, and even if Anakin felt that Obi-Wan held him back somewhat, at least Obi-Wan cared enough about him. He'd asked Yoda to pass on a message to Obi-Wan. He wasn't sure what his master would say about the situation, only that a lecture would probably ensue, so calling him directly was something Anakin didn't want to do for now.

It was the Jedi Order itself, he realised, the teachings that had them, if not suppressing emotions, then blunting them, controlling them. True, he could see their point in some regards, but in others, well…in a way, it was as if he exchanged slavery under Watto with slavery under the Jedi. A gross exaggeration, to be sure, but all that had truly changed was what he was told not to do, and who was doing the telling. Instead of a single ornery Toydarian, he know had a bunch of uptight Jedi Masters and Jedi Knights doing that, many of them having a ten-foot gimer stick up somewhere very uncomfortable.

In any case, here, he felt free in many regards. And in a way, that made his responsibility all the more clear. He was the face of the rest of the galaxy. He was a Jedi. A Padawan, true, but he was meant to be an ally of justice and a protector of peace.

As he walked out, Itami met him, having changed his usual uniform for something more formal, some sort of dress uniform. "Hey, Anakin," the lazy JSDF lieutenant said. "Rory told me that you managed to contact your people back home. Should we expect to start seeing massive starships in the sky any day now?"

"No, no," Anakin said, shaking his head. He knew Itami was being facetious, but still… "Anyway, the Jedi will be sending a starfighter to here. I think they'll have it land just outside the base. Can you get your people not to shoot it down? Or take it apart?"

"Hazama won't…not so sure about Yanagida," Itami said, a little darkly. "That guy…he only seems to see the resources in this place to be exploited. I don't think he's bad, just…not really caring about the fact that these people have a prior claim to it."

Anakin nodded grimly. He hoped Yanagida would not be anything like the Trade Federation. He remembered dealing with the aftermath of the invasion of Naboo, the internment camps. Those damned Neimodians in charge, like Nute Gunray, didn't care. In fact, Anakin was sure that Gunray had delighted in the suffering of the inhabitants of Naboo, human and Gungan alike. "You people have an IFF system, right?" he asked.

"Identification, Friend or Foe? Yeah."

"Then I'll give the codes to your people. Ditto the transponder codes they're likely to use. Anyway, how long are we going to Japan for?"

"A few days, I think. After we go to the Diet, and Pina and Bozes finish their thing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we'll be doing some sightseeing. That being said, you'd better prepare for trouble. Some people might attack Pina, Bozes, or the others for what happened in Ginza. In addition, when they realise you're from outer space, there's going to be one hell of a panic. A lot of our science fiction involves alien invasions, after all, and they'll be worried."

"Well, isn't what you're doing here an invasion?" Anakin asked wryly.

Itami laughed a little sheepishly. "More of a peacekeeping thing, but given the way our world has been lately, I see your point, though the Empire did the invading first. Still…we're trying to be the good guys here. Hopefully, we don't screw it up. Still, you know what the road to hell is paved with…"

"Yeah," Anakin said. Itami and his team were all right, he reckoned. They had no pretensions, no hidden agenda. Itami was pretty frank about himself. Hell, apparently the only reason he joined the JSDF was to earn money for his hobbies. Apparently he was an avid collector of certain media known as manga (especially doujinshi) and anime, which apparently were types of comic books and animated series back in Japan.

"By the way, you won't be coming with us to the Diet," Itami said. "Apparently the official Pina and Bozes are speaking with, Sugawara, wants you to meet him to discuss the possible opening of talks between Earth and the Galactic Republic." On seeing Anakin's sour look, Itami said, "Hey, you're really only meeting one politician. Be thankful. I've gotta front a bunch of them, plus the press. Do you guys have paparazzi on Coruscant? You know, annoying, persistent reporters?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean by that word. Still…I have a bad feeling about this…"

CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:

Yeah, well, meetings with politicians don't end well for Anakin, especially with Palpatine, in spite of appearances.

Incidentally, after going over Wookiepedia, I decided to retcon the whole Earth and the Special Region world being in another galaxy. Instead, I decided to go with what is explained in annotation 2.

Review-answering time! edboy4926: Not during this initial trip. Later, though…

hydrangea wine: I have to admit, Darth Vader is my favourite character. Anakin…not so much, but I think he's a character rife for expansion in fanfic, especially for those of us who haven't watched the Clone Wars TV show. I think Anakin was at his best in Episode III, at least as far as the movies were concerned, though I loved his incarnation in the webcomic Darths & Droids…but I digress.

In my GATE crossovers, I either try to bypass the whole Japanese Nationalism thing (and that does repulse me in an otherwise enjoyable series), or else point out that everything isn't black and white (in my Potterverse crossover Parva Sub Ingenti, for example, much of the behind the scenes work and intelligence gathering for the incursion into the Special Region is done by the British Ministry of Magic's Unspeakables, and by the time the second half of the series happens, in my still-being-written chapter, the group at Alnus has become a bit more international, even if the JSDF is still providing the bulk of the military forces). Itami is a very likeable character, along with the rest of his team, though I have to say that Yanagida is another matter. His finest moment was in stopping Delilah…and eventually hooking up with her. But most of the story will be about Anakin gradually evolving and maturing, with eventually him having to come to terms with his infatuation with Padme, with help from Rory.

Any changes to GATE canon, however, will be gradual, up to the point where the second half of the series occurs. I've stated before that, during the confrontation in the throne room just after the earthquake, there will be a major change that will cause, if not a truly divergent storyline, then a still somewhat different one.

Also, keep in mind that, with all due respect to you being a Star Wars fan, I am not. My knowledge, aside from searching through wikis, is confined to the first seven films (though frankly, The Force Awakens is basically A New Hope with a new paint job and refurbished parts), a broad knowledge of the EU, and the books Death Star, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, and the first of Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy. I'm probably going to really piss off a bunch of Star Wars fans by playing loose with the EU canon (and to be fair, I thought that whole Legends/Canon thing Disney did was a bit of a mistake, or at least could have been handled better), but one, that's the beauty of fanfic, and two, I marked this fanfic as an AU.

Blazblade: Zorzal will get his comeuppance, don't worry. As for how firearms stack up against Star Wars tech, I did put a little thought into that for the Mount Hakone battle: I decided that Anakin could not use the lightsaber to block them like a blaster bolt, so I decided to have Anakin throw up a Force shield instead. It means he has to fight more defensively than usual, true, but Anakin, for all his impulsiveness and recklessness, is intelligent.

last admiral: Maybe that can be background for a potential sequel, but for the most part, I intend a more peaceful integration. Not a completely peaceful, happy-dappy utopian BS thing, but one that is a lighter shade of grey…at least until the Clone Wars come around.

jgkitarel: Oh, I agree, but Yoda, as you see in this chapter, is thrown off-balance somewhat by Rory. In the next chapter, he gets to snark at Bozes Co Palesti when she makes the mistake of calling him an imp. I'm writing him as having a sense of humour, just a somewhat hidebound attitude.

Jostanos: Qui-Gon didn't. Given that, according to the novelisation of Episode III, Yoda is not aware that Qui-Gon has become a Force Ghost (he just rationalises it as the Force speaking to him with Qui-Gon's mind), I don't think Qui-Gon would be believed, at least yet. Obi-Wan might believe him, but Yoda would take time, and Qui-Gon knows this.

1. Yoda's bit of snark is a quote from his line in Episode 136 of the webcomic Darths & Droids, after Mace Windu decides, upon hearing some disturbing lines from Anakin, to speak with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Incidentally, I cannot recommend Darths & Droids highly enough to Star Wars fans: you'll love it. Where else can you hear the line "Jar-Jar, you're a genius!" without any irony whatsoever, or have a credibly threatening Nute Gunray or a good Palpatine? No, really! It basically takes as its premise that Star Wars never came about as a series of films, but rather, as an extended tabletop RPG campaign.

2. According to Wookiepedia, while not actually canon, this is, supposedly, where Earth resides in the Galaxy of Star Wars. I decided to go with it.