"Order! We will have ORDER!" Mas Amedda shouted from his stand.

The prattle died down, and Chancellor Palpatine stepped forward. "Senators, the jury is eager to deliver results on the decision."

From across the room, the enormous form of Bent helped Qymaen into his Senate pod. Voices shot like a million blasters firing at once as senators hurled suggestions at D'oon and the other Jedi on the jury. Many squabbled with each other, urging them to side with Huk instead of the Kaleesh, who were uncivilized beasts. Ronderu's head ached from the chatter.

A woman's voice rang out from the chair marked Naboo. "Senators! We haven't even conducted an investigation!"

"Unfortunately, Senator Amidala," a nasally voice to her left replied in a condescending tone, "Kalee chose to leave the Republic ages ago. We cannot conduct an investigation without first consulting the planetary government."

"Then let the khagan speak," Amidala replied. "Let him authorize this investigation before we punish the Kaleesh people based on only half-truths."

Ronderu wrinkled her nose. Was this how the Senate operated? Did they just shout as loud as they could and hope that validated their opinions?

"ORDER!" Mas Amedda bellowed, but the Senate continued mudslinging. He slammed his staff on the ground. "We will have ORDER!"

"Senators, please," Chancellor Palpatine said gently, a small smile touching his lips. The Senate calmed down almost immediately; the effect he had on them was alien. "The Senate will hear from Jedi Masters T'Chooka D'oon and Jmmaar."

D'oon stepped up to the stand. "The jury has decided that the account of Huk is truthful."

Her face twisted into a scowl. Far be it from me to think otherwise. What do you want, a medal?

Jmmaar continued, his crustacean-like form clicking on the podium. "Khagan Sheelal has been shown to have a faulty mind before. Evidenced by the....rather brutal murder of the governor at the Battle of Kaleela, he is quite unstable and therefore much less likely to recount the events of the Huk War accurately."

"How did you know about Kaleela?" Qymaen's voice boomed from his pod, but Ronderu refused to turn her eyes his way.

"Huk delivered its full detailing much earlier than now," Jmmaar continued blithely. "Ever since the unfortunate passing of your companion, you have been prone to outbursts and instability. Additionally....hallucinations." His face was grim. "You know that the Yam'rii have had ire against you for several years."

"The Khaganate will authorize an investigation," Qymaen cried. "Didn't one of the senators propose that? Kalee will get the Republic's soldiers on our soil. My people will not be subject to more brutality based on a lie!"

"Sheelal," Palpatine admonished, "you have not been given permission to speak."

Qymaen bowed his head and spoke through gritted teeth. "Humble apologies, Your Excellency. It slipped my mind that the king is used to his subjects obeying his every order."

Palpatine ignored the comment. "The Senate has decreed a punishment upon Kalee for its crimes of offensive warfare. A sanction of twenty-five billion credits upon your planet shall be imposed, due to the office of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic."

Qymaen chuckled. "Kalee doesn't use Republic currency. These sanctions are meaningless."

"Of course," Palpatine said, shadows splayed across his ancient face, "there are....other ways to extract our dues. Other more effective methods."

A pregnant pause in the Hall, and Ronderu scowled. What is he implying? Why would he try to provoke a society of warriors?

"Slavery," Qymaen growled. "You want to enslave us just like the Huk tried to do."

"It is your choice," the Chancellor replied smoothly. "It always was."

And for once, Qymaen was silent. His expression, concealed by the mask, was pointless for Ronderu to attempt to read.

✺✺✺

Khetsuu dizzily walked into the hallway. Perhaps he could pay off Kalee's debt. Twenty-five billion credits was a meager bill to pay; the Republic spent twice that every day and never batted an eye about it.

Wild Space might refuse to trade with us.

No, they will refuse to trade with us. What nation would, after this fiasco?

A hand pressed onto his shoulder. "Excuse me—Sheelal, was it?"

He turned around, realizing he'd been holding his breath, and let it out slowly. A female human about his age stood behind him, her eyes kind. "Naboo will help you," she said evenly. "If I can get approval, we're on your side—"

He wrenched away. The idea of trading with Nubians was repulsive to him. "I submit to no one."

✺✺✺

Arna was at the bay, fiddling with a white cylinder of some sort. When she drew near, it was tucked away. "Bad news?"

She lowered her eyes and nodded, stuffing her emotions downward. "I need to talk to you about something."

His eyes darted to hers. "Me too."

"I'm going first." She sighed. "I....I want to become a Jedi."

"No, you don't," he said immediately, but his sapphire eyes gleamed with sudden interest. "Becoming a Jedi is not the way to deal with hurt feelings. You would have to give up your feelings for the khagan, you'd have to pledge yourself to avoid attachment, and you would never be able to marry or have children." He stepped toward her. "You're too....amazing to be able to live that life, Ru."

"I'm fine. And I can handle it." She clenched her fists, recalling the arium sumeen she'd heard about on Kalee. But what was the Basic phrase? "Temple guards," she said. "They don't have to be infants. Run a midi-chlorian test on me."

A pause. "We're going to talk about this once we're back at the Temple," he said softly. "Come into the speeder. I'll take you there."

✺✺✺

"Too low," Madame Jocasta Nu said, her frail voice mildly amused.

"Too low?" Ronderu dabbed the spot where she'd extracted blood with a wipe.

"You have to be sensitive to be a Temple guard," Arna explained. "Being a sensor isn't going to cut it."

There's no way.

She set her head on the table. Her regulator worked hard to breathe for her.

"Let's go back to Mandalore, Ru."

She stood, nodding, and did not allow Arna to touch her even as they boarded his ship to take them back home.

◈◈◈

Did you know....

● My favorite Star Wars AT idea is a Padmé/Grievous friendship (bolded for emphasis) AT. Sadly, it was not meant to be in this AT. But if you write it, I will read the crap out of it.

● It was no coincidence that Chancellor Palpatine was the one who sanctioned Kalee. Several times in both Canon and Legends sources, he states that he had plans for Grievous being a part of the Clone War long before it ever happened.

● The phrase "I submit to no one" is a callback from The Clone Wars episode "Lair of Grievous" (one of my favorites, despite it retconning Unknown Soldier).

Tell me what you think....

● Would you have been content to become a Jedi after being rejected by a loved one?

● Is Ronderu's response to this situation healthy? Why or why not?

● What had Arna been about to tell her before she spoke?