CHAPTER 7:

JAPAN

Anakin wrinkled his nose as he stood outside in the cold air at the metropolis on the other side of the Gate. As polluted as many areas of Coruscant were, they had at least gone beyond using fossil fuels. Then again, there were no airspeeders: most transport was strictly ground-based.

This, apparently, was Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. Specifically, the district known as Ginza. According to Itami (as well as Kuribayashi and the tall, burly form of Akira Tomita, the other soldier who had accompanied them), this was once a shopping district in Tokyo. Interestingly, Itami had been here during the initial invasion attempt by the Saderan Empire, though it was to attend some sort of pop-culture convention.

Soon after showing their credentials to guards manning a checkpoint, a rather unpleasant-looking man in a shabby coat began speaking to Itami and the other JSDF soldiers. Anakin's Japanese was rather shaky, so he asked Kuribayashi, "Who's that?"

"I know English, or whatever you call it," the man said, looking at Anakin with a smirk. "As I was just saying to 1st Lieutenant Itami here, I am Hideyo Komakado, of the Japanese Defence Intelligence Headquarters, as well as its liaison with Public Security. In layman's terms, we're responsible for signals intelligence for the JSDF."

"A spy?"

"Of a sort, or rather, I work with the spies. Quiet a moment, please. I need to speak with Itami."

However, what Komakado had to say to Itami as he read something from a notebook provoked a scream of "NANI?!" from Kuribayashi. Anakin knew that was Japanese for "What?" As she began launching some sort of tirade in Japanese, Anakin looked over at Komakado.

Without Anakin asking anything, verbally, Komakado just said, "Sergeant Kuribayashi merely finds it rather difficult to believe that 1st Lieutenant Itami here has not only undertaken Ranger training, but Special Forces training. In the JSDF, it's what the Americans would call a 'big deal'."

"Of course it's a big deal!" Kuribayashi yelled in Basic. "There's no way in hell that lazy bum could have gotten training so badass! DO NOT WANT(1)!"

"Denial is a river in Egypt, not Japan, Sergeant Kuribayashi," Komakado remarked serenely, much to the short woman's ire. After he spoke to Itami for a short while, Komakado gestured to Anakin, who reluctantly came over. "So, Anakin Skywalker, is it? A pleasure to meet you, even if I'm sure the feeling is not mutual. Those in my line of work tend not to be welcome by most. Still, be thankful you're not going to be testifying to the Diet. We're keeping something of a lid on your status as an extraterrestrial, though that won't be for long. For now, we're dubbing you as a mage found in the Special Region until we're ready to announce the existence of this…Galactic Republic you represent."

Anakin nodded. For all the fact that he didn't like this guy's demeanour so far, the course of action was sound. "To avoid panic?"

"Yes. Our fiction is, after all, infested with alien invasion stories. Still, Sugawara has been briefed. Once he's done speaking with the princess and her aide, he'll speak with you…"

For a politician and a diplomat, Anakin found himself liking Sugawara. The handsome Japanese man was polite and deferential without being oleaginous. Anakin was still a little wary of him, true, but no more than he would be around any politician whose name wasn't Padme Amidala.

After some discussions, Anakin set up the comms device, and Sugawara came face to face, albeit over holographic interface, with Yoda. The ensuing conversation was…interesting, to say the least, especially as Pina and Bozes were watching on in astonishment at the hologram. "What wizardry is this?" Pina asked in awe.

"It's not magic," Anakin said, as Yoda and Sugawara spoke, the latter struggling a little with Yoda's eccentric syntax. "Though I suppose to you, communicating almost instantly over thousands of light years would be magic."

"And this…imp?" Bozes asked, only for Yoda to round on her from where he was 'standing'.

"An imp, I am? Not the first to cast aspersions on me, you are. No respect for elders, the current generation have," Yoda remarked with a huff.

"He's almost as old as Rory Mercury," Anakin explained. "And he's as great a warrior, believe it or not."

It was rare to see Yoda in action, but Anakin did get to see the diminutive Jedi Grandmaster demonstrate his abilities with a lightsaber, and his mastery of the Ataru style, with its aggressive acrobatics. For all it being hilarious seeing Yoda leaping around with his lightsaber, he was also a lethal opponent. Not to mention he had taken on many Padawans, and trained them into some of the best the Jedi had to offer. Anakin, for example, remembered Qui-Gon mentioning his own master, Dooku, and Anakin remembered reading about Dooku. Apparently Dooku had been one of Yoda's Padawans.

"Flattery gets you nowhere, young Skywalker," Yoda said, a smirk touching his lips, before he returned to speaking with Sugawara.

"He is also the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order," Anakin said to the two Rose Knights.

"Are there many…demi-humans like him in the Order?" Bozes asked.

"There are many species within the Jedi Order. There are a lot of humans, true, but a lot of other species as well," Anakin said. "What matters is the ability to use the Force, not appearance or species. And I doubt they'd appreciate you calling them demi-humans either."

"…So it's not everyone who can learn to use the Force?" Pina asked. "Rather like mages?"

"In a way. Some people are Force-sensitive, but they don't actually have the ability to use it. It just means they have a better awareness of their surroundings, or a small amount of precognition, things like that. All living things have a connection to the Force, true, but not everyone can use it."

Pina smiled rather ruefully at this. "And an entire order of knights uses it. And I thought the Rose Knights were small in comparison to the other Orders of the Empire. But even they are mere drops in the ocean compared to this. That there are so many other worlds, many more advanced than our own…it's rather frightening."

Yoda, who had apparently just finished speaking with Sugawara, turned to face Pina at this. "Princess Pina Co Lada…perspective, you fear. Small compared to the galaxy, your world is, a mere speck in the galaxy. But even small things can be important. Pretend that the Republic is wholly peaceful, I cannot. But the ways of peace, the Republic follows. And so too do the Jedi. Seek to conquer, we do not. Instead, to include, we seek."

That was a bit too idealistic for even Anakin's liking. Even with Sheev Palpatine, the former Senator of Naboo, now in the role of the Chancellor of the Republic, the Senate still had a tendency to bicker and debate. The Confederacy of Independent Systems was splitting away from the Republic. Anakin believed in the Republic, but he also knew its faults.

He knew why Yoda put it like that, though. Because for all its faults, the Republic, or at least what it stood for, was right. Pina needed to be reassured that, if the Republic did come to their world, it wasn't as conquerors, but as allies. True, this didn't necessarily mean things could continue the way they did, with the slavery and conquest…but maybe learning about the Republic might have the Saderan Empire reconsider its priorities.

"Then, I hope that we soon may have a peaceful relationship with the Republic and the Jedi Order," Pina said, bowing.

After Pina and Boxes waited in a waiting room, Sugawara spoke to Anakin briefly. He had done so before, but now, he needed to discuss some things. "We're still working on finding a means of publicly releasing the existence of the Galactic Republic to the world at large. It was startling enough to have the Special Region suddenly make contact, even if it was in an appallingly violent manner," the handsome Japanese diplomat said. "However, when we are ready, we may expect you or a representative of the Republic to appear before the United Nations' General Assembly. We'll probably do it jointly with representatives from the Special Region. It's a big step, you know, to open negotiations with an interstellar governing body."

"I'm sure," Anakin said. "Though I hope I won't have to speak before this United Nations. I'm not sure I have the patience to be a diplomat."

Sugawara laughed. "Being a diplomat isn't for everyone, no," he said. "Still, it's a pleasure to meet you, Anakin, and to speak to Grandmaster Yoda. Even if he has a somewhat…unique way of speaking."

"He does…"

As he rejoined the others, with Pina and Bozes, he noticed the two Rose Knights, and especially Rory, looking apprehensive as they entered what seemed to be an underground train, though they initially took some buses. After a moment, he realised why. On the JSDF soldiers' questioning looks, as Anakin went to be reassuringly close to Rory, he said, "The underground is the domain of Hardy, their underworld deity. Rory told me that Hardy…has a thing for her. And Rory doesn't want to be Hardy's bride."

Itami, Kuribayashi and Tomita all gained looks of realisation, as Rory, acting like the child she appeared to be, clung to Anakin. Anakin looked down at Rory, rubbing her back soothingly. "Hey, Hardy won't be on this world," Anakin said soothingly.

Rory shook her head. "She's going to come for me, I just know it!" she hissed. "She doesn't like men, so I have to stick close to you."

"Well, if she does come for you here, then I will use the Jedi Mind Trick. It doesn't work on all people…but maybe a deity could be affected," Anakin said.

"…Can you do that to an Apostle?" Rory asked. On Anakin's bemused look, she said, "Not on me! No, I was thinking…remember what I told you about Hardy's own Apostle, Giselle? I'd like you to use the Jedi Mind Trick to get her to leave me the hell alone."

As they came to a halt at a train station, Anakin said, "Maybe. Misusing it's a bit tricky, and it doesn't work for long. But if she's still trying to kidnap you…"

"Funny you should say kidnapping…" Komakado said, as he got on board. "Excuse me a moment."

As he spoke to Itami, Anakin, using what knowledge of Japanese he had picked up, realised that the buses they had supposedly ridden on had been decoys. Decoys that had been intercepted. The gist he got from Komakado's talk with Itami was that someone had been leaking their itinerary to interested parties…parties that had some malign intentions.

Anakin frowned, and reached out with the Force. Maybe he could see if he could sense something. Then, his eyes snapped open, and he looked at the others. "Next stop, we get off."

"What? But that's not part of the plan," Komakado said.

"Trust me," Anakin said.

As the train slowed to a halt, Anakin and Rory got out, Itami following suit. So too did the other Japanese and visitors from the Special Region. As the train pulled away, Komakado scowled. "And what about sticking to the plan?" Suddenly, an announcement was made over the speakers, and Komakado stared at the speaker. "Son of a bitch. You used the Force, didn't you? You could tell something was going to happen."

"What's the matter? What was the announcement?"

Komakado scoffed. "An 'electrical fault' has developed, and the train is being stopped at the next station. Electrical fault, my foot. Someone's trying to get a hold of us…"

What happened next was…somewhat amusing. Shortly after they emerged from the subway, someone tried to steal Rory's halberd. Tried being the operative term, as they promptly fell over (and that was the only reason Anakin allowed it to happen). As the man fled, Komakado made to pick it up, ignoring Itami and Anakin's warnings, given that it weighed as much as a speeder sans repulsorlift technology.

The upshot was, Komakado was loaded into an ambulance with his back put badly out of joint. Itami decided not to head to the hotel that had been assigned to them, just in case there was a trap. Instead, he had another idea. So he led the party through the streets, before they finally came to an apartment complex, albeit not before stopping along the way at a local restaurant to pick up some food.

The apartment they came to was shrouded in darkness. Anakin reached out with the Force…and felt hunger, desperation, and despair. Not particularly strong, but there was something about it that was mildly disturbing.

Itami went in first, and proffered the bag of food to the figure that opened the door, a round-faced young woman with glasses. "Excuse me, Itami, but…who is this?" Anakin asked.

"Oh, this is Risa Aoi. My ex-wife."

At that point, a million voices cried out in incredulity…and were suddenly silenced. Well, a bit over half a dozen, but who was counting?

CHAPTER 7 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Anakin's come to Japan.

Review-answering time! Some people were pissed that the Mount Hakone battle and the conflict of the three superpowers was still going to happen. Look, it's my fic, my rules, and I am sticking to GATE canon at this point. Don't worry, things will look up when the Galactic Republic comes a-calling, and most of their jockeying will be who represents Earth's interests in the Republic, rather than anything rapacious. If you want a story where the Americans aren't stupid, well, I did do that to a degree in my Potterverse crossover Parva Sub Ingenti.

last admiral: Anakin in the prequels didn't quite do it for me. He was at his best during Episode III, in my opinion. I admittedly haven't watched the Clone Wars TV series, so I can't pass judgement on his character there.

Guest: In this case, I meant a more metaphorical definition, though I see where you're going, given the running gag in Darths & Droids involving 'disarming' people. Also, were you trying to channel HK-47 there?

1. Yes. I really went with the infamous Revenge of the Sith double translation meme. Why not?