Chapter Six: The Past is Present
After the clone captain left his quarters, Obi-Wan decided to take a walk. First he went to the courtyard that overlooked Rudral, leaning against the stone parapet and casting his awareness out – not into the city, as he probably should have done – but rather through the palace, searching for Kali even as he watched the sun sinking below the horizon. A realization was forming in his mind but he was not about to jump to conclusions unless he had more solid evidence. The captain was remarkably adept at shielding his thoughts from me, but he didn't get there on his own.
He thought back to the first few minutes of their journey and recalled the outburst of emotion he'd sensed from Stonewall regarding Kali; the clone had been drawn to her since Basrah, so it was no wonder that his feelings had developed to this point after they'd been working together for over half a year.
However.
He nodded to a group of servants who slipped past him, their eyes darting away. She must know, which means one of two things: either she is ignoring it, which is unlike her, or...he frowned. I just can't picture her falling for someone like him. Obi-Wan took a deep breath and turned from the panorama to make his way back into the palace.
Everything was as he remembered: the same marbled floors; the same high, rounded windows; the same pervasive scent of incense from the temples and snow from the distant mountains. It was a wonderful time, though it ended the way it did. We got so carried away with the romance of everything...and my feelings for her began to creep towards attachment. What other choice did I have, but to put a stop to the relationship? What else could I have done?
His steps led him through the halls and towards the garden where he and Kalinda had passed quite a few pleasant hours together prior to the wedding. I know that she hated the clothes she wore to the ceremony, but she looked so beautiful. A small smile crept to his face at the memory and for a moment he could feel her skin against his.
At the eastern entrance to the garden he paused to regard the Human-sized statue of a goddess. Perhaps it had been painted at one time, but now the image was the uniform color of some pale stone; at her feet were small, spiraling flames and in each of her multiple arms was a curved sword. His eyes fell upon the face of the goddess, wide-eyed and grinning, though it was a ferocious expression rather than a benevolent one as she looked back down at him.
Sudden movement caught his eye and he turned to see the clone captain stepping into the garden from another entrance, heedless of Obi-Wan, who paused before he slipped in after him. Careful to keep his movements silent, he followed Stonewall until he saw the reason for the clone's presence here. The expression of sheer joy and welcome on Kalinda's face as she looked up at Stonewall made his chest tighten, but it was not until she took the captain's hand that the truth of the situation fell upon a few moments of conversation Kali lead the clone further into the garden but Obi-Wan did not have to follow to understand what was happening.
Instead he turned to leave, brushing through the foliage as quickly as possible. Only when he was free of the garden did he realize that his heart was pounding and his hands were clenched, so he paused beside the statue once more and took several deep breaths to calm himself and set his thoughts in considered casting his awareness out once more but decided against it, though he thought it was odd that she had not sensed him.
Obi-Wan sighed again and ran his hands through his hair, his back straightening. The sudden, echoing sound of the dinner-gong made him start, even though he turned and made his way back towards the palace. This is going to be even more interesting than I'd anticipated.
The queen had made good on her word, but after the clones had eaten the food she'd had sent, Crest found that he was bored. "Trax, come on."
"I told you...I'm busy."
Crest crossed his arms and glared at his brother. "You've cleaned your guns at least three times over," he countered holding up the deck of cards and wiggling them in what he hoped was an enticing manner. "All I'm asking is for one round of sabacc. One." The scarred clone shook his head and picked up the chamber of his Deece again, pointedly ignoring Crest.
Damn him, the bald clone thought as he sighed. He knows how to annoy me right back. "Fine," he said, turning away. "I'll just break out my harmonica, then."
Weave and Milo looked up from their datapads and Crest grinned at the very clear "NO" that rang out in unison from each of his brothers.
"Well," he chuckled. "There's at least one thing we can all agree on, eh?"
"Here," Weave said, tossing him a 'pad. "Intel. Make it your best friend."
Crest looked at the 'pad and frowned. "You can't learn anything from this stuff," he replied, flicking through the screen. "If you want to learn about a place, you have to dive in, get dirty." He shook his head. "Words only do so much; you need smells and sounds and..." he trailed off as the door behind him slid open, revealing General Halcyon's familiar form.
"I'm sorry for barging in like this, but there wasn't a chime or anything." She stood at the threshold and looked at them with a wary expression.
Crest grinned at her. "It's safe," he said. "We're all decent; I know you don't want a repeat of that time on Talor..."
At this she gave a chuckle as she entered the room. "No, thank you. But I would like to talk to you guys for a minute before I go to dinner." She watched as they rose to stand before her, somewhat at attention, though Crest knew that she tended to run quite a bit more informal than most other Jedi. "First of all, I'd like to apologize for the attitude about you that seems to be so common here; it was something that I should have considered and prepared you for." She let out a breath and ran her hand through her hair. "That being said, Stone mentioned to me that you've been tasked by General Kenobi with taking a look around the city to gather what information you can."
Weave nodded. "That's why we're going over the intel again," he said as he held up his datapad. "To get an idea of what's out there."
"What's 'out there' is nothing that can fit in one of those little 'pads," Crest interjected with a shake of his head.
"I agree." The clones looked at her and she lifted her brows. "Rudral is an amazing city; at the very least you should be exploring it, especially since it appears that Stonewall, General Kenobi and myself will be stuck here for the evening. I know that you'll stand out in your armor," she said as Milo opened his mouth to speak. "But our presence here is no secret, so I'm not worried about you all trying to blend in. For tonight, all I ask is that you get out there and poke around." From her pocket, she pulled out a small pouch of credits and tossed them to Weave. "Don't spend it all in once place."
Pocketing the money, Weave frowned. "But, General...what are we looking for?"
As she was turning to leave, the Jedi paused at the door and looked back at them. "Just keep your eyes open," she replied. "You never know what you'll see." With that she slipped out of the room.
"Copy that, boss," Crest called, giving her retreating form an exaggerated salute before he turned back to his brothers, clapping his hand together. "Alright...who's up for a little recon, boys?"
None of my training ever prepared me for this, Stonewall thought as he stood at the entrance to the dining hall, debating whether or not he should just walk in or wait to be summoned. Taking down a SBD at fifty meters, fine. Chasing wanted criminals across the galaxy, perfect. Even dealing with scumbag pirates, I can handle. But this? Again, he peered in the massive room and saw that it was still devoid of anyone; the long table was set for four and candles flickered from sconces along the walls, the light glinting off of the porcelain flatware. I'm completely out of my league.
"Captain." He turned to see General Kenobi approaching him, an unreadable look on the Jedi's face. It took him a moment but he saluted, though the other man merely nodded. "I suppose we're a bit early," the general said, indicating the empty room.
"It seems that way," Stone replied. "Sir."
Kenobi seemed to consider something for a moment before he spoke again. "Have you seen Kalinda? There is much we need to discuss, but I haven't been able to track her down."
"Consider me tracked." Both men turned to see Kali approaching, her robes rippling behind her as she hurried towards them. Stonewall found that he couldn't quell the happiness he felt at seeing her, though her eyes landed on his for only a moment before turning to Obi-Wan. "Can it wait until after dinner?"
"Of course." At that moment the trio heard the rustle of silk and the jangle of gold as Queen Sita appeared amidst her servants, looking regal in a deep turquoise gown. Following the example of the Jedi, Stonewall gave a low bow, though he felt clumsy next to their graceful movements, especially as the clinking of his armor echoed in the wide chamber.
The queen lead the way into the room, taking a seat at the head of the table and indicating that Kali and General Kenobi should next to one another at her right, which left Stone to sit at her left, across from the Jedi. Within a few moments several more people had entered: a small group of musicians and a servant who brought everyone tall goblets of water and wine. General Kenobi thanked the servant and looked at the young queen. "I'm looking forward to dinner; as I recall, Arunai food is a pleasure not to be overlooked." He glanced at Kali. "What was that one dish that you were so fond of? The halla?"
The queen turned to Kali and smiled. "Not many outsiders enjoy that particular dish."
"It was a bit on the spicy side," the dark-haired Jedi replied. "But well worth the burning in my tongue." In the background, the musicians began to play and Stone found himself looking over at a familiar sound. It looks like the tablas, he thought, recalling the little drums that were the first instrument he'd learned to play. He glanced up to see Kali smiling at him. "This is where they came from," she said. "Though I never was able to use them with any real proficiency."
"I find that hard to believe," the queen said, glancing between the Jedi and the clone. "You were always quite a talented musician." Her eyes widened and Stonewall thought again how very young she seemed. "You will play for me again, won't you?"
Kali took a sip from her water glass and nodded. "I can do better than that," she said, glancing at Stonewall. "Stone and his men have proven to be quite talented musicians; perhaps you would let them play for you, Sita."
"Yes," Kenobi replied. "You've done an admirable job of teaching them." He chuckled. "It reminds me of all those times you tried to get me to play something over the years. You were determined to make a musician out of me, no matter how abysmal I proved to be." His head shook as he gave Kalinda a wide grin. "Don't you remember the flumpet lessons you forced on me when we were teenagers?"
There was only the sound of Kali toying with her glass for a moment before she replied. "I think so."
Stonewall glanced at his own plate; the promise of food was starting to lose its appeal as he found that his appetite had vanished. I wasn't even alive when she was that age. The realization struck him like a blaster bolt.
The queen smiled at Kenobi. "You don't share Kali's musical talent?"
"As much as she would've had it otherwise, that is the sad truth." The Jedi was still grinning at Kali, who gave a small smile in reply, though she did not meet his eyes. There was a pause in the conversation while the first course was brought and Stonewall was confounded by the array and variety of foodstuffs that were set before him, though a surreptitious glance at Kalinda showed him the best place to start eating.
After a few minutes Kali looked at the queen. "What exactly is Neerja saying about you, Sita? Why do they say that you are not fit to rule without Badal?"
The queen's face fell and she pushed the food around on her plate for a few moments before she replied. "None of the members of the priesthood were pleased with my coronation," she said at last. "They claimed that Badal had been seduced or drugged, but the reality was far simpler." She looked up. "We never even should have laid eyes on one another, but by fate or chance we did, and fell in love. Destiny is a strange thing, I suppose, to allow an farmer's daughter to wed a king."
"Sita: you are the queen. You have everything you need to win this struggle. Why is there even a problem? I don't understand. You could end all of this..."
"I do not have Badal's presence, or the love of the people, Kali." The queen's words were quiet and her eyes were downcast. "Those who are also in power speak against me, and I find that I have no one that will side with me. I am afraid of what will happen should I go against the will of the priests." She took a deep breath. "The ruler of Aruna may have the bulk of the power, but it is only relegated by blood, not marriage."
Kali frowned at her plate; the food was hardly touched. "This isn't right. There must be more going on that we don't know."
General Kenobi had set his fork down as well and his hand was in his beard. "I suppose after tomorrow we'll have a better idea of what is happening. You mentioned the vote?"
"It was supposed to be today," the queen replied. "But I asked for a time extension to allow the Republic to speak on its own behalf." There was only the scraping of forks against plates for a moment before the young queen looked back up at Kali. "Please can we talk of something else?"
Stone watched as Kali seemed to debate something before she nodded. "Of course. You wanted to know what I've been up to since I was here last?" The queen nodded, a smile breaking over her face and Kali indicated Stonewall with her right hand. "Most recently, I've been assigned to work with a very fine group of men in order to help the Republic in the recent war." She gave Stone a smile, which he found himself returning. "It was tricky at first, but we've somehow managed to stumble along, haven't we, Stone?"
As he met her dark eyes, he found that he was unable to say much more than a simple "yes, General," though he couldn't shake the feeling that arose within him at her gaze. She seems so comfortable talking to the queen....a far cry from the woman I've seen crawling around the jungle, covered in mud. It shouldn't surprise me; I suppose all Jedi are capable of doing much the same thing. Still, the realization was unsettling and he found himself thinking back to Traxis' words. Perhaps he's right. At the end of the day our worlds are so different...could we ever find a common ground?
"And you, Master Kenobi?" the queen asked, her eyes flicking to the other Jedi. "You have been on missions with Kali and her soldiers?"
The bearded Jedi frowned and shook his head. "No, your Majesty. For most of the war I've been on the front lines of battle, along with my former Padawan, Anakin. I don't believe you met him." He gave Kalinda an inscrutable look. "We haven't seen much of each other since the last time we were here, actually."
"Are you lovers still?" the queen asked, looking from one Jedi to the other. "You were both quite taken with one another while you were here last."
Kalinda was sipping her drink and started coughing at the queen's words; for several moments the sound echoed throughout the dining room. Stonewall was about to leap from his chair when General Kenobi slapped her back as he leaned towards her. "Are you alright?"
Nodding, Kali cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "It went down the wrong way," she said, her voice hoarse. "I'm fine, Obi-Wan." She looked back at the queen and managed a tight smile. "We're not...like that now," she said, sitting upright. "We're colleagues, Sita. Nothing more."
Queen Sita nodded, though she seemed disappointed. "How unfortunate. I was hoping, well..." she ducked her head. "It's foolish, I know. But you were both clearly so...right together." She smiled. "After Badal died, I thought back to the two of you and how happy you seemed; it gave me comfort to think that such love still existed in the galaxy somewhere." At this she turned and addressed Stonewall, the first time that she'd done so. "You should have seen them, Captain. It was quite a sight." She giggled and Stone felt his hands clenching beneath the table.
"Things change, Sita," Kali replied as she shook her head, though it seemed to Stone that she was trying hard not to look at General Kenobi. "People change."
"You're right, Kali," the general said in a soft voice. "People do change." He met her eyes and Stonewall felt his chest tighten as Kali's lips parted slightly while she regarded her fellow Jedi.
It can't be, he thought, his breath growing shorter, though he tried not to show it as he looked down at his plate. Does she still have feelings for him? I shouldn't be surprised if she does...They're both Jedi, after all. And she's known him her whole life, but I thought...he gave a small shake of his head. No. I'm being paranoid.
When he looked up, Kali was still regarding Obi-Wan. It bothered him more than he cared to admit that he couldn't read her expression.
And the angst is brewing further still...