CHAPTER 10:

AWKWARDNESS AND UNWANTED REVELATIONS

"You're infatuated with her, aren't you?"

Anakin frowned as Rory helped him up after the next morning's spar. They'd gathered, as was often the case, something of an audience. "I…I..." No, he couldn't say it. Not even to Rory, who had become his best friend on this world, and a mentor. He could not admit that he loved Padme.

Rory shook her head, apparently discerning his thoughts. "Anakin Skywalker, leaving aside the Jedi precepts for a moment…love is based on mutual attraction and understanding. How many times have you actually met her? If what you told me is true, then it was once, when the Trade Federation invaded Naboo. Look, I'm not saying what you feel for her won't develop into love. I've seen love blossom between master and slave, between species on this world that normally hate each other's guts, between royalty and commoners. For example, remember Pina Co Lada? Her mother was a commoner that Molt Sol Augustus took on as a concubine, but by all accounts, Molt loved her more than he did his official wives, and holds perhaps the most affection for Pina out of all his children as a result. But…even if you love her…would she reciprocate? No, don't answer that. Even I don't know the answer. You, Anakin, have a crush, not love."

"Shut up," Anakin snarled quietly at Rory.

"Oh, hit a nerve, have I?" Rory then peered into his eyes seriously, her impish demeanour from earlier gone. "Then think about it from her point of view. Don't get me wrong, you're a handsome fellow, and if I could make my body older, I'd want a slice of that cake." She licked her lips in a predatory manner that made Anakin fear for his chastity. "She'd be attracted to you physically…but she'd also be remembering the boy she met all those years ago. Trust me, that can make things awkward."

"Of course, coming from the Apostle stuck in the kid's body," Anakin retorted angrily, annoyed at how the Apostle was picking apart the love he had for Padme.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, for the sake of our friendship," Rory said loftily. "Plus, there's the fact that you're a Jedi, with all the oh-so-boring precepts that come with it. And she's a politician. An idealist, by the looks of things, with just enough savvy to do well in spite of the cesspool politics can be…but that only makes things worse, because if you two get together, it'd probably cause a scandal that would harm both of you. So, in light of all that, do you want me to give you one piece of advice?"

"No."

"You're going to get it anyway. Re-establish your friendship. I don't give a damn about what the Jedi think about attachments, a friendship is always worthwhile, even if it sours or dies with one of those involved. Be friends with her, take it slow, and think on your feelings. Use the brain in your skull…" And then, her impish smirk returned. "And not the one in your penis."

"RORY!" Anakin yelled, embarrassed and angry.

Fuming, Anakin patrolled the streets not long afterwards. He eventually ended up at the tavern, and ordered a drink. Delilah brought it to him, and then sat down opposite him. "Hey, Anakin. What's up?"

"None of your business," Anakin said sullenly.

"Maybe, but you're missing a few things. Firstly, that sort of sullen reticence makes some women go wild," Delilah said with a cheeky smirk. "Secondly, bartenders and waitresses, we're listeners. We listen to people's problems, sometimes find solutions and suggest them." She frowned. "Sergeant Kurokawa told me the Earth people have something similar, only without the drinking, called psychiatrists. I hope they don't come here, or I'd be out of a job."

"Oh, you don't need to worry," Anakin said. "We have psychiatrists and psychologists too…and we still have bars and taverns and inns."

"Well…that's a relief! It's really strange, you know…knowing that out there, there are hundreds and thousands of other worlds with all sorts of beings. I mean, I mingle with a lot of the ones here on this world, thanks to my time in Italica in the Formal household, but…it just makes you think." A soft smile touched her features. The brunette Bunny Warrior was quite cheerful, save when matters of her people's decimation and the betrayal of her queen were brought up. "Maybe one day, I may go to one of these places. Naboo or Alderaan, maybe."

Anakin nodded. But before he could continue, there were a series of noises, a seemingly random mixture of beeps and chirps. Astrodroid language. Delilah looked startled, and Anakin looked towards the source. It was a short, cylindrical astrodroid with a domed head and two motivator arms, a third limb with a track mounted below. With the blue colouration of the panels of the dome, it looked familiar. An R2 unit…in fact…

"R2-D2?" Anakin asked. The droid promptly emitted another set of noises, clearly an excited affirmative.

"You know this…metal creature?" Delilah asked.

"He's an astrodroid," Anakin said. "I met him during that mess with the invasion of Naboo. He's R2-D2. R2, this is Delilah, one of the Bunny Warriors."

The noises R2 emitted could be construed as a greeting, and Delilah couldn't help but smile. "Hello, R2. My, my, you're a cutie."

The crooning whir that came from R2 seemed almost like a shy and embarrassed thanks. Then, Anakin heard a familiar voice. "R2-D2 is a very resourceful and brave little droid. Without him, I probably would not have escaped Naboo with my life, and I believe he and Ani managed to do a lot of damage to the Trade Federation together."

Anakin turned to look at Padme, who was standing there, though in somewhat less elaborate clothes and with circles around her eyes from tiredness. Keeping what Rory said in mind, as reluctant as he was to acknowledge her words, he said, "Padme…was it a long night?"

"Very," Padme said. "First contact, even friendly, is complicated. Then again, I'm grateful to Chancellor Palpatine for giving me this assignment. With the Separatists making waves, I'm finding it difficult to find solutions that please everyone." Then, she seemed to relax a little. "Still…it's been so long, Ani. How are you?"

"Trying to do good," Anakin said. "Did they brief you on how I ended up here?"

"Yes. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda was in the office with me when I was briefed by the Chancellor, along with Master Windu," Padme said. She shook her head. "Sorry, that was rude of me. And who is your friend?"

"Delilah, one of the Bunny Warriors," Anakin said. "She used to be part of the household of Count Formal, but she's here as part of their own diplomatic relations. Delilah, this is Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo."

"Ah, the queen," Delilah said. "Except…you were elected, weren't you?"

"It's a custom amongst my people," Padme said. "Has Ani been talking about me?"

"A little. He got your beauty right, that's for sure," Delilah said, winking at the senator. "So, what brings you here? Is it 'Ani'?"

"Yes. I wanted to say hello before I go to Sadera," Padme said. "I'm to leave with the JSDF before long. After I'm done in this world, I will be heading to Earth to speak to the United Nations of that world." Padme then turned to Anakin. "Anakin…"

Anakin stood, and turned to face Padme, his Angel. And he found himself trying to reflect on what Rory said this morning. He could tell that there was some small interest in her, hidden behind a mask of professionalism, even as she was being social…but Rory's words put doubt into his mind. The first thing that came to mind was…

"Sorry."

They said the word simultaneously, and Padme chuckled softly. "The first time we've seen each other in years, and we said those things to each other."

"Yes," Anakin said. "I…I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."

"And so am I. It's just…never mind. It's good to see you again…"

They exchanged, after an awkward beginning, some small talk, exchanging a few stories of their lives after the invasion of Naboo, as well as opinions on the Separatists. Eventually, they managed to get to talking a bit more candidly. And Anakin though that, yes, at the very least, they could be friends. He'd never truly doubted that, but Rory's words had shocked him into realising that consciously.

Still, a welcome bit of news from Padme was that R2 would be staying behind to do maintenance on her spaceship, and Anakin did want to catch up with the astrodroid. He'd been around droids long enough to know some of the code languages they used.

It was with a jolt that Anakin thought about how much he missed those people he last saw all those years ago. Padme, and her handmaidens. Jar-Jar Binks, with his amusing antics and good-natured clumsiness. C3PO, the protocol droid Anakin built from a box of scraps. And his mother, Shmi. Did Watto still have her in his possession?

In any case, he and Padme certainly parted on better terms than they had parted yesterday evening. And that was the thing. He was here, away from the Jedi. Rory hadn't forbidden him from having his feelings for Padme, only that he reflect on them. And he already found Rory a much better teacher than the Jedi. Than Obi-Wan. True, Obi-Wan and Yoda and the others built the foundations…but only with Rory did he feel like he was building something more. He felt…well, he felt human again, and the irony was, he was being taught that by the emissary of a god of war and calamity.

After Padme left, he was talking to Delilah. "I dare say Padme would have made a better queen for our people than Tyuule," Delilah said, wrinkling her nose.

Anakin nodded, before a thought occurred to him. It was something, he realised, that had been bugging him for a long time, at the back of his mind, but it only came consciously to mind. "…Delilah…who actually told you that Tyuule betrayed your people? Was it the Imperials?"

"The herald of Zorzal El Caesar, the very man she whored herself to."

"…But would you consider his word trustworthy?"

"No more than I'd consider…Tyuule's…" She turned her blue eyes to Anakin, her gaze narrowing as she did so. "What are you saying?"

"I don't know. Only that it sounds like a crude psychological ploy. What better way to divide a people than to declare that their leader is a traitor?" Anakin asked. As Delilah tensed, looking about ready to get angry, Anakin said, "Would she have willingly turned traitor, given what you knew about her? Could she have been blackmailed? Or could she have offered herself to save your people, only for Zorzal to renege on the deal?"

Delilah opened her mouth to make an angry rebuttal at first, or some sort of denial, before she shut it, and shook her head. "Out," she said, her voice having all the power of a command.

"Why? Because you don't want to think that I may be right?"

"I said, out. Now. You're barred!"

"As you wish…Formal spy," Anakin said, standing and walking out of the tavern, leaving the Bunny Warrior sitting still in shock. Then, as a parting shot, he called back, "By the way, I agree with some of the locals when they say that your drinks are like making love in a canoe."

Delilah got his extra meaning, given the enraged shout that followed him. Rory had explained it to him once. Apparently, that meant it was fucking close to water(1)…

It was a little later. He was talking to Rory about what he just thought of, and she tapped her lips as they sat on a bench in the base proper. "Hmm…that is a distinct possibility. The truth is, Tyuule was a queen many of the Bunny Warriors were uncertain of, as she ascended the throne at a young age. She left their settlement without escort, in secret, so her actions there, sadly, support her being a traitor. But…on the other hand, such a twisted ploy would be up Zorzal's alley. Still, maybe you could've handled it better with Delilah."

"I'm not a politician."

"No, that you're not. But did it occur to you that the only reason she had for living, in the end, was to live long enough to take revenge on Tyuule? Delilah may be happy here…but it's a mask. She serves the Formal family out of gratitude for taking her in…but her raison d'etre, as I am sure it is for many, is to take revenge. And you've just questioned that reason to live. No wonder she was pissed. Imagine, for example, someone murdered your father, and you were told it was one person, when it was really another. Imagine that you wanted revenge, only to be told you were targeting the wrong person, the person you spent a good part of your life hating. You'd be in denial, because of your conviction that you were right, and that this person needed to die. Yeah, you're not going to be having any drinks there any time soon."

"I went there more for the company," Anakin remarked.

It was about that point that Yanagida made himself known, walking towards them. "Hey, Skywalker. I want a word with you."

"A word? Is it 'no'?" Anakin snarked.

Yanagida, to his credit, chuckled. "No. Listen, we've got Sugawara doing a few little soirees with the local nobles that are meant to help the peace talks along. Lieutenant General Hazama would feel safer knowing you're there to protect the people we have in Sadera. Plus, apparently you have history with Ambassador Amidala. In a couple of days, we'll have you at Princess Pina Co Lada's palace, just for a few days, to keep an eye on things. After that, we'll bring you and 3rd Recon back. We're still negotiating with King Duran of Elbe, but we have his broad permission to cross his borders to assist the Dark Elves. However, we're also arranging for the necessary weapons, materiel, and transport. We can only send in a small team, though, at this stage of negotiations with the Empire. Tuka Luna Marceau and Lelei La Lalena have also expressed interest, so we'll be giving Tuka, Lelei and Yao some quick training, as well as planning out the operation."

"Ooh, can I come too?" Rory asked.

"…You would have come along even if we said no," Yanagida said flatly.

"Ah, we have such a great accord already!" Rory said, clapping her hands together.

Yanagida and Anakin shared a look. "Hey, you try stopping her from doing anything," Anakin said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. "She's an immortal demigoddess with a big halberd, and the only thing she fears is underground places and a misandrist chthonic death deity with a thing for her."

"Yes…it's like owning a cat with superpowers," Yanagida remarked.

"Excuse me, but the only owner I have is Emroy!" Rory declared proudly. "Then again, according to the lingo of your people…I own a lot of people with my halberd…"

CHAPTER 10 ANNOTATIONS:

Oh God, that pun. Still, we've had some bridge-mending between Anakin and Padme…and some bridge-burning between Anakin and Delilah.

Now, if you think I'm bashing Delilah, keep in mind that she has vowed to kill Tyuule. She holds a lot of hatred for her former queen, and keep in mind her reaction when Noriko mentioned Tyuule in the anime: she seemed actually calm and regretful that she had to kill Noriko, but the moment Noriko mentioned Tyuule, saying that Delilah reminded Noriko of Tyuule, you could hear a LOT of anger in her voice, at least in the dub (it's a bit hard to tell with the Japanese version what she's feeling, though it sounds more like shock rather than anger). She actually only intended to bar Anakin for a little while, and once she's actually had time to calm down, she will apologise. Well, until he talked smack about the drinks in the bar. That's just not done. Don't worry, they'll reconcile, eventually.

Review-answering time! Leicontis: Oh, do you mean Mars, Bringer of War? Yeah, I love that piece of music, and Rory would to. Actually, Mars, Bringer of War was used as the theme for the first two Quatermass serials that I take my username from.

zetsubougintama: I've answered much of their review in correspondence, but this is basically like the world of Darths & Droids: Star Wars, sadly, does not exist here, save in the minds of a put-upon GM and his tabletop RPG players. In addition, I think you'll like what I do with Tyuule. Indeed, in the twelfth chapter, I actually use, albeit in part, a scene you described in your very first review of Parva Sub Ingenti.

lord Martiya: One, Yanagida was snarking at Rory. Two, he doesn't know what fashion is like on Naboo.

1. I'm sure this is an old joke, but I first heard this in the Bruces Sketch in Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl, so that's what I'm crediting it to.