Arna's voice was cool as they stood in the foyer. "I'll be outside once you're ready to leave—I need to check on the ship." She nodded, and they parted ways.

A rough banging sound crashed outside, followed by a growl. "Jedi segserne." She translated the words as Jedi scum, gasping at the voice that had said it.

No. It can't be. She bolted to her feet and quickened her pace, walking outside to see....

Bent helping Qymaen to his feet.

She walked up to them and spoke in Basic. "Did someone knock you down?"

"A Jedi just stormed out of the other room and knocked me down," Qymaen replied in the same tongue, irritation in his voice. "Are you lost?"

He doesn't recognize me? "No," she said, shoving her hands in her pockets. "I'm with him."

"Excuse me," Bent said, looking to an exit of the Senate Hall. "I must attend to the izvoshra. Coming along?"

"I'll stay here," Qymaen said, faintly smiling beneath his mask. "Thank you." Their friend exited the room, and the two of them were alone.

"You are Kaleesh," he stated simply. "Why is your accent Mandalorian?"

"I've....I've been with the Mandalorians for a while." Why doesn't he recognize me?

He caught her stare. "Is there something on my mask?"

A strip of cloth was wrapped around his head, spotted with dull maroon. "You're injured," she whispered softly. "Sheelal—"

"I'm not going by that name anymore."

She cocked her head. "But the Chancellor called you that."

"Unfortunately."

"Well, then, what should I call you?"

"Khetsuu."

She swallowed. The grievous one. "Can we speak alone?"

"I'm afraid I can't just talk to any random stranger," he said. "Not till my second-in-command gets back here, anyway."

Any random stranger. Tears stung her eyes like hornets' needles, but she blinked them away. "I'm not just any random stranger. You know me."

He chuckled. "How would I? Nobody's left Kalee since....I don't even know how long."

She gripped his hand, but he pulled away as if he'd been burned. "Don't touch me like that."

A heavy weight slammed into her chest. "Qymaen, listen to me!"

His eyes widened at the use of his first name, and he beckoned her to stand against the wall and spoke quietly in her ear. "Who are you?"

She trembled. "I...." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I'm Ronderu. Ronderu lij Kummar."

Eyes wide, he fumbled for the fabric concealing her face. Her cheeks were cold as he lifted her veil away. Harsh awareness about the gauntness of her cheeks dawned on her as he studied her for a long moment.

His hands and shoulders dropped. "I....I apologize for my behavior."

"Qymaen, it's me. Do I have to slap you to prove it?"

He stepped away. "I don't trust my senses anymore," he murmured. "I see her everywhere." He gently fastened the veil back across her face, then bowed slightly. "I pray you will someday forgive me for my actions."

"Qymaen, I want you. Hold me."

"You can't be her," he said, more insistently. "She would have never run off with the Mandalorians....she would have fought every guard in order to come home to be with me...." His voice slurred more and more with each word, and he began to stumble. "My head...."

Without warning, he fell forward and collapsed in her arms. Her body slammed to the ground. His head was pressed to her bosom, and she forced herself not to cry.

The drumming of his heart relieved her so deeply that she might have, if Bent hadn't burst through the door immediately. "Madam, what happened?"

"I....I don't know. He just passed out."

He stepped down, lugged him off of her. "Think it's a side-effect of his injuries," the commander said gently. "He's been passing out spontaneously for a while since his skull was fractured. He'll be up in a few."

As he was walking away, she caught up to him. "Bent," she said. "I need to talk to you. He wouldn't listen to me, but I know you will."

He whistled at the door, and three other soldiers marched in. Bent spoke to them in quick Kaleesh. The soldiers took him back to the ship.

Bent knelt to her height. "I know."

"You....you do?"

"Anyone sane can recognize you from a mile away, Ronderu."

"Don't call me that here," she said. "It's not safe. Call me Ru instead."

He nodded, cast his eyes downward. "I didn't believe it when I spotted you with the Jedi—he knocked Qymaen down for some reason; I think you heard the noise—but now I am convinced. Somehow the idea of you surviving never seemed impossible." A sigh. "Qymaen won't believe it....he's been a mess without you."

"I saw," she said flatly.

"He won't listen to me." Bent sighed. "He's slowly deteriorating. I don't know how to stop it."

She sensed that he was holding something back. "Tell me, Bent."

"Well...." he looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Ru, but...."

"Spit it out," she said.

"He's married already. The Khaganate legalized polygyny after we retook Kaleela, and....he acted on that opportunity. He thinks you're dead."

Only emptiness whistled past Ronderu's walls. "He did deliver his first child on Abbaji Minor, then," she said, breathing out. "Don't tell him, then—I shouldn't have tried."

"Why not?"

"He's already replaced me," she said, her eyes downcast.

"But Ru, if he knew—"

"Either he would divorce his wives—wrong—or he would choose me as a favorite—also wrong." She cut off the words, And I want him to love me alone.

She might as well be wrought from stone, but her thoughts carried bitter words. She couldn't decide whom they were directed at—Qymaen or his wives. "I'm disappearing," she said, turning away.

"We need you back home," Bent said. "Qymaen still needs you."

"He'll learn to be strong," she said, her tone turning from cool to frosty. "He'll survive."

"Ru—"

But she was already walking away, betrayal burning in her mind but never touching her heart of iron. She focused on the clanking of her cybernetic leg. Nothing from outside could hurt her anymore.

✺✺✺

The announcement to reconvene in the auditorium sounded, and Qymaen was still not back. Before Bent had placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, Ronderu had sensed him coming up behind her.

"Are you still coming back to Kalee?"

She didn't turn around. "I don't know. I may stay on Coruscant." What if the Jedi Council made an exception? Would they train another late-bloomer? No more did the idea of laying down attachments and embracing the Jedi way seem so repulsive to her.

A long silence stood between them, and then her friend hugged her, understanding his strength and avoiding overuse. "Think on it," he said quietly. "I must go and see if Qymaen is fit to appear before the Senate again. Goodbye." He exited the auditorium.

◈◈◈

Did you know....

● Some AU concepts of Ronderu do have her as one of Qymaen's wives (especially since Youtubers are perpetuating the fake news that she was Qymaen's wife in canon), but I didn't think that was realistic. She wouldn't be keen on spouse-sharing.

Tell me what you think....

● Why doesn't he recognize her?

● Why is Ronderu content to stay out of his life? Will this behavior last?