Reborn as Anakin

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Padme was sitting at the same table where we first had dinner. I went straight to her-she'd already ordered light appetisers, so I wouldn't have to be distracted by waiters.

- Good afternoon," I sat down across from her, seeing how worried she was, "how long have you been waiting?

- It's nothing," she sighed, looking around to see if anyone was around. There wasn't.

- By the way, I got an invitation to the reception tomorrow, at the palace," I tried to defuse the situation a little, "do you think I should go?

- Why not? - Padme smiled sincerely, - it's an invitation to the queen's reception, it's honourable....

- Oh," I waved my hand, "who cares? Who cares about titles and honours? Mandalorians have an indifferent attitude to big titles; they look more at the person.

Padme exhaled a sigh of relief. Apparently, she was going to tell me the most unpleasant news. But before she could muster up the courage, she drank a little and asked:

- Tell me, do you not want to see the queen at all?

- Honestly? - I raised an eyebrow," I somehow don't care. I don't think the lieutenant pilot is that important, and I'd rather spend time with you than with a bunch of fellow soldiers drinking in honour of victory. By the way, what are you doing today?

- I have work to do at the palace, so I'm sorry, I can't make it. You know, I invited you here because... well, I wanted to confess something.

I suppressed a smirk, and I answered:

- I have a confession to make, too. Three times.

- Don't shoot me down," she shook her head, "I wanted to say...I wanted to apologise, but I'm not Korde.

That's a good way of putting it. As someone used to improvisation, I can build a good answer around it:

- What do you mean, not Korde? Where's Korde? Then who are you?

- I meant to say," she didn't get confused, but lost her train of thought, "that my name is not Korde, but I am me.

- Is that so? Then it doesn't matter if you're not married. I actually wanted to tell you something too," I encouraged her to interrupt me, which she did. So sure that her case is more important, and she can't continue the conversation after breaking her speech, that she interrupted me:

- The thing is, my name is Padme. And I am the queen of Naboo. - She lowered her gaze into a plate of some greens and waited for my reaction.

It is understandable, an ordinary person would be frightened of such a relationship, run away, say that he did not want to do such a thing with her majesty, or just offended for deception. But not in my case, I grinned to myself and asked:

- Oh, that's very interesting," I nodded, "then, nice to meet you.

Padme seemed to take offence at this indifferent response, but when she looked up, she couldn't say anything to me. For a minute we played the staring game.

- You... you didn't leave? - she was surprised.

- Should I have? Or is having sex with the queen a capital offence? - I tried to be ironic. Padmé's cheeks turned pink, but she held her ground. Still, diplomacy in such matters is useless, even harmful. It's more useful to take life more simply, with a healthy dose of defeatism.

- No, I just thought it was going too far. Sometimes I swap places with the maid for a little holiday outside the palace. I don't mind our... relationship, but it was wrong of me to deceive you.

- It's a small thing," I gave her another hard stare, "perhaps I should return the favour?

- You said... does it matter?

- I don't know, think about it," I smiled, "okay, I'll start with the least pressing confessions. One, I have a son, though his mother is long gone," I sighed a little, "if that doesn't put you off...

Padme shook her head negatively, taking in my change from joy to sadness:

- 'No, it's not... it's just that you're so young...'

- Yeah, I know. I was sixteen when he was born, a sweet little boy, he's nine now.

- I see," Padme smiled. In the force I could feel what a crazy storm of emotion had passed. I think her confession had come barely harder to her than this whole war. It was only when I said that I didn't care about my origins that it worked - if I'd said something like, "It's an honour to see the Queen!" she wouldn't have dared. Then she would have thought herself a fool, a weakling, and so on and so forth, but now she was past the stage of emotional breakdown and relaxed as after a violent orgasm.

- Second confession - there is a girl in our squadron who recently confessed her love to me. I didn't push her away, but I didn't fall in love with her either. We kissed a couple of times, or rather she kissed me, but I didn't sleep with her. She's a really nice girl.

Padme tensed, I had to clarify:

- I'm not a male dog, for that matter, I haven't been with anyone or anything for years before you. It's just... I can't forbid loving myself.

- Does she..." Padme squinted, "does she love you? Or is it just...

- We're Mandalorians, Padmé. I don't think you're aware of all our politics, but there's no such thing as flirting in the Mandalorian language, and we're very straightforward about personal matters. If a Mandalorian is serious, he or she makes their intentions and feelings known. I have news that you may not want to hear any further.

- Speak," Padme set her glass of wine down and prepared to listen.

- About the same girl. I don't want to offend anyone, but I have no love for her or for you," I consoled her, feeling Padme's moral decline, "you know, I've had my love. The first girl I loved died when we were thirteen years old. The second one, the mother of Shiai, my son, also died," I wasn't lying, because Tosya was long gone by now, "after that I didn't have a relationship with anyone for many years. It's just... it's hard for me to readjust to a normal personal life and especially that suddenly you appeared, then Sabina....

- You want to be with her," Padme lowered her gaze again.

- I mean, I don't want to choose. Let's be honest, I'm already experienced in some ways, and love is such that it doesn't appear suddenly. Maybe I could love you, maybe Sabine, maybe both of you. But it requires something much more important than love, understanding.

- I love you, too," she said quietly, "you said Mandalorians are supposed to be straightforward.

- I realised that already," I sighed heavily, "I'm sorry if it's not what you expected. And anyway, I don't like your attitude, let's be honest. You love me, Sabina too, but I'm not disposable. And I don't want to choose between you. Especially since there's no choice in this case, I like you both deeply, choosing is like asking which parent you want to lose, your mum or your dad. I don't want to lose either one, that's my answer.

There was a pause for a few moments. Padme struggled with her feelings. I didn't interrupt her as the waiter changed the appetisers.

Today Padme was dressed in the spacious clothes of a servant, a long skirt, a blouse of local, inexpensive material and a wide belt, behind which were hidden a small pistol and a sword.

- So, you don't agree to make a choice," she sighed heavily.

- Or rather, I think in this case the choice would be unethical. Which of the two girls who are very, very pretty to me should I break my heart? I don't want to break anyone's. The most ethical option would be to simply walk away from both of you, so that neither you nor Sabina would think that I was stolen by a rival, and I would not have to spend the rest of my life tormented by the pangs of conscience. So I've given you and Sabine one relationship option. We're together. That's it. Or not together. I told you straight away, love at first sight is not my thing. I'm looking for understanding first. Nevertheless, feelings will arise or not, but my liking for you is enough to call it my own.

Padme booted herself very hard, for a long, long time. Silent.

- And what did she say? - The queen looked at me with interest and challenge.

- She said that she was not the kind of hen that waits for happiness to come to her and gives up without a fight when she hears that a man has someone.

- A brave girl," Padme said.

- Captain of the Guard, Squadron Commander, Mandalorian.... Mandalorians are warriors by nature, and only the bravest of the brave can become a captain of the Imperial Guard. That's why," I grinned, "that's why I like her. You and her are just opposites.

- Are you saying I'm a coward? - Padme pretended to be surprised.

- No, but you're soft, vulnerable, sensual, emotional, diplomatic, subtle. And Sabine is straight as a durasteel crowbar, brave, bold, used to solving questions with a punch to the jaw and problems with a gun. A warrior to the core.

Padmé was into it:

- She didn't... what about me?

- No," I smiled, "she's kind in her own way, honest, like all Mandalorians, and principled. Meanness is definitely not a Mandalorian trait, nor is cunning or scheming.

- Interesting..." Padme finished thinking, "So she's okay with our relationship, but she won't give up until you love one of us?

- That's right," I nodded.

- Then I won't give in to her, - the girl smiled bloodily, as much as she could, - only... there is one problem, what will they say about such a relationship? I might not be understood, and...

- It's the norm in the Empire," I sighed, sitting back in my chair and taking a sip of wine, "I don't keep statistics in my head, but about a quarter of marriages in the Empire are polygamous. More precisely, marriage with two girls is allowed, in exceptional cases with three. It's a crisis measure, as the Empire is very young and doesn't have enough population yet, but judging by the percentage of polygamous marriages, it will become a tradition for centuries to come. I'm neither for nor against this tradition, if a man is capable of loving two girls, why break a maiden's heart on a legislative level?

Padme, too, collapsed tiredly on the sofa. This decision had been very, very hard for her. She had to step on her own beliefs, her upbringing, her dreams.

But I'd be an idiot, and no diplomat at all, if I couldn't make a deal. I'd passed the diplomacy course at the university with top marks, and I was not a weak empath. If Padme hadn't asked, I would have quoted Sabina and her argument in favour of fighting to the end, and convinced her of the option I wanted. She had lost a lot of things when she stepped on the ground of personal relations, first of all, a healthy share of criticism and logic, letting herself not to be persuaded, but to be led by the hand to the decision I needed. Admittedly, I didn't lie, but I didn't lose my head either, so the initiative belonged to me.

- Okay," the girl relaxed. Wasted, early, - you had something else you wanted to tell me?

I had to use force, so that the attention of other visitors would not linger on the couple talking in the corner, only then I continued the disclosure:

- There's a lot more I want to say, but I'll start by saying that I knew who you were from the beginning... - now, after the first nervous shock there should be a second. I didn't miss a beat, Padme rose up at first, but sat down again, staring at me with square eyes:

- From where? - After the surprise, she was completely lost in the situation, and now she was staring at me in surprise, "Did I screw up?

- Almost not, - I sighed, dumping the penultimate news, - it's just that I told you long ago that sometimes to see the truth, it is enough to close your eyes, which are easy to deceive ...

That was a quote from my letter to Padmé. My own, not one that was shared across the galaxy. The queen didn't get it, but she started thinking about where she might have met me. It's understandable, our acquaintance was once fleeting, so she won't immediately remember the details.....

While Padme was remembering, I ordered more wine and sipped it, sitting back in my chair, enjoying the sight of Padme deep in thought. It took her about three minutes to remember where she'd seen that phrase.

- Wait," Padme looked up at me, "who are you?

- Anakin Skywalker. In person," I saluted her with my wine glass and set it on the table, watching her emotions change. Padme didn't believe me:

- Don't lie to me," she squinted, "you're not him.

- Not him," I nodded, "but I am Anakin Skywalker. And no one can know I'm him.

- You're lying," she sighed, "Anakin is now..." the queen hesitated.

- Sixteen years old, according to the papers. But that's only on the papers," I sighed, "if you knew how I was leaving my life, Padmé," I sighed again, "and don't pay any attention to his appearance, it's changed somehow. It must have been the Force.

- It can't be, - the girl began to believe, and from this she fell out of reality, - it can't be, it can't be ...

Apparently, she was a little out of it, so I brought her to her senses:

- It can, it absolutely can. Are you gonna listen or not?

- Yes, yes," she nodded, "I'm listening.

I poured her a glass before continuing, and after she drained it, I began my story:

- So, to elaborate, the night on Coruscant, I mixed up the ships and got on a Jedi ship instead of yours. I was sleepy. Then the Jedi were sent to Neimodia, where I was almost killed, but I was rescued by a smuggler named Julian. For a while, the two of us flew together, on his ship....

Padme calmed down. This conversation, and especially the confession, had not been easy for her, but she hardly felt anything for that-some little Ani Skywalker, so it was more of a shock to her that the meeting had taken place this way, and that she had found out about me after we had slept together many times.

- You were a smuggler? - the girl wondered.

- A ship's technician, to be exact," I shrugged, "but it didn't last long, a few months. After that I went to Alderaan and enrolled in the Academy there. And then..." I smiled, "then life took a crazy turn.

I had to talk about what happened on Mandalore. I didn't mention Ali in passing, but I did talk about time travel and the events there, except for the Architects. Judging by Padme's ever-widening eyes, it was beyond the realm of possibility. I ended on returning to this time.

- That's roughly what happened," I finished the story.

We fell into silence. Padme was silent for a few minutes, not interrupting me, and I did not interrupt her thinking. While we were silent, the waiter came and once again changed the snacks and drinks. Admittedly, we'd had a lot to drink.

- I... I think that's the most incredible story I've ever heard," Padme finally finished thinking. She couldn't drink about as well as I could, so she was already tipsy, very tipsy. But not yet in a state where her tongue was slurring.

I saluted her with my glass and we had another drink.

- You know..." I was about to ask if she remembered me, but Padme interrupted me:

- "What about your family? Well, Shmi..." she gave me a sly smile, "I have such news about that.....

- You mean Mum? I know. Wedding, kids..." I grinned openly.

- How?

I moved over to Padmé, as the couch was big enough, and moved closer to her, "Well, if that's the case, you don't know me at all. Of course she was followed, they even gave her my wedding present. I was kept in the loop at all times.

Padme stared at me in surprise, but after a few long seconds, she said:

- Do you know how worried she was? How worried we all were? And why didn't you come sooner?

- I know. But there's a reason for that. And one, I didn't want to disturb them, and two, we have our own lives. I didn't want everyone to know I had relatives on Naboo.

- Oh," Padme smiled, "that's not a good thing to do. You should go see Shmi today.....

- I don't think that's a good idea. You know, we've had a little too much to drink. So Mum won't have to see our drunken faces.

Padme nodded, then moved closer to me:

- How did you get into the Guard?

- I appointed myself," I hugged her, "you know, there's something I haven't told you yet.

- What?" she looked at my arm around her waist in surprise.

- Don't swear, but I'm the emperor.

- Yeah, that's funny," she sighed, "Maybe we should stop drinking.

- Definitely enough. I told the truth, though. I am the Emperor of Koros, Anakin Skywalker. The only objective reason I haven't been here is so that everyone would think that Anakin Skywalker, the boy the Jedi found on Tatooine, died on Neimodia. My biography begins at the University of Alderaan.

Padme twitched, but didn't remove my hand:

- Are you... hiding?

- Or rather, I don't want to put my family in danger. I'm sure Emperor Koros has a lot of ill-wishers, which means I'll have to keep all my relatives in the empire and guarded by guards," I sighed heavily, looking at the half-empty bottle of wine, "you know, if I just show up at my mother's house, it will be the end of her quiet and peaceful life. And how can you imagine that? The woman's already married, raising her kids, and I turn up in white and say, "Hello, Mum." ...

- You're right," Padme sighed, "I think you should have seen her anyway.

Padme took the news that I was the emperor surprisingly calmly. Or had already drunk enough to make her critical perception of reality go away. Tomorrow she'll understand everything I've told her, but in the meantime, there's something I need to ask her:

- Just don't tell anyone that you and I have known each other for a long time, okay?

- Okay," Padme nodded, "I'm glad to see you," she snuggled closer.

As we talked, night had already fallen. We talked for a long time. I got up and took the girl out, who was a little too drunk for her age. Together we walked to the palace. Erdva, who got out of the speeder, followed us. The fresh air had a favourable effect and my mind cleared. When we got far enough from the restaurant, Padme asked:

- Listen, you still haven't told me... what's the point of all this?

- What do you mean? - I was surprised. Why what?

- Well... why did you get involved in politics when you could have run away to Naboo. Or you could just live like a simple man.

- What can I say to that? - I shrugged, "Why would you do that? Royal post, and so on... you could live like an ordinary girl, like Korde.

- I don't know... never really thought about it before. Well, at first it was just the way they brought me up, they said we were Nabuan aristocrats, we had to get involved in politics... and for God's sake, I was eleven years old when they stuck me in politics, what did I understand then? - she stopped abruptly, "do you think this is the fate I wanted for myself? Running around the galaxy from the Neimodians, having to keep my face in front of those turkeys all the time, commanding the military, finally having to explain myself to the Republic for taking over two systems! - Padme was nervous, but I gave her a hug and reassured her through the Force:

- Tc... don't be nervous. It's okay. The Neimodians are dead, Enark and Farstin are dead...

- You're the one who took them out. I had nothing to do with it.

- You're wrong. As for the Federation, I just innocently said a few words in front of the Jedi and turned on the recording on the secretary droid. And these two systems... I only gave a few people, about five hundred specialists, and money. That's all. The Naboans did the rest.

Padme seemed nervous, so she pulled away from me a little. Yeah, I guess I must've thrown too much at her at once. I'm failing at diplomacy. However, taking into account a little alcoholic state, it'll do. The girl smiled sadly:

- You exaggerate the importance of Naboo in the war.

- No, not at all. Your citizens did it all, my military only gave them weapons and taught them how to use them.

- Yes... perhaps... in any case, it goes beyond mere politics. By the way, you still haven't told me what kind of empire this is or how you became emperor.

- Oh, I'll tell you that tomorrow. That's enough politics for today.

We went to the palace together, embraced, slightly staggering. Padme led me through a back door that went underground, through corridors. Unlike surface buildings, underground communications were more like a spaceship - grey corridors, faint light from light panels, sparse intersections. Padme walked confidently, held by me, through a couple of corridors, and we emerged... in some room of the palace.

- My bedroom's right next door," she pulled me along, and as soon as we were in the right room, she smiled and kissed me. And then... maybe I shouldn't have agreed, but my alcohol-addled mind gave way to instincts at the helm.

* Morning *

It was a beautiful morning. The birds were singing, the sun was shining through the window... Unfortunately, it wasn't for us.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in the queen's bedroom, and why I'd come with her was anyone's guess. And that's not a fact, far from it. Padme was sleeping restlessly, covered with a blanket and brazenly using me as a pillow.

My head ached terribly, so I had to treat myself and Padme. The girl didn't even wake up. Déjà vu all over again. She had more important things to do today - a reception for the war party, in a wide circle of all the characters combined. Erdva came to the bed when he noticed I was awake:

- Up already, chief?

- Yeah," I looked at the droid, "what time is it?

- Five to seven. By the way, Cinna tried to contact you.

- Tie her up," I threw a blanket over Padme, leaving only her head visible, "but switch off the holo-camera.

The droid stood still for a moment, then a projection of Cinna appeared above his head.

- Your majesty? - he wondered," I can't see you.

- I'm a bit in the nakedness. If you tried to contact when it's night on Naboo, did something important happen?

- You could say that. The group we spoke of yesterday has come round. No support has been given to them, my guess is their proposal will be heard tonight. Just in time for the festivities.

- Okay," I sighed heavily again, "you don't have to follow them, since we're a little late....

- I apologise," Cinna repented, "it's my fault we found out so late.

- Don't mind me," I waved my hand, forgetting that Cinna couldn't see me, "I personally don't care which option happens. Is that it?

- That's it," the nerd bowed and the image disappeared. Erdwa turned away and moved to the door, and I collapsed on the bed.

Not a minute later, Padme opened her eyes.

- Who were you talking to?

- Did you hear that? Oh, sorry, it's someone I know," I tried to get up, but just at that moment there was a knock at the door.

- Your Majesty?

Padme gave me a surprised look. At the same moment, I pulled all my scattered clothes onto the bed by force and answered her with an interested look:

- Who's that?

- A maid," Padme blushed and wanted to say something, but a maid came through the door... followed by another one. When they saw me and Padmé on the bed, they both froze. There was a pause. The maids began to back away slowly, Padmé wanted to say something to them, but didn't have time - the couple squeaked something apologetic and ran away. The queen jumped out of bed and wanted to chase after them, but I stopped her - running around the palace in Eve's costume was not a good idea.

We had to spend a few minutes getting dressed.

- Why did we drink last night? - The queen said annoyed, "Why did you come?

- I don't know. You're the one who dragged me into the palace.

- Yes, that's right," she remembered, "that's it, my reputation is over.

- What reputation? An innocent little girl?

- Ani, I'm the queen! - "What will they say about me at court?" she said, surprised.

- Oh, never mind.

I got up too and looked around. Padmé's bedroom was nice, spacious, and bright. There was silence in the room as I dressed. Padme had found some maid's clothes and a royal outfit somewhere in the wardrobe, and was thinking about what she should wear. I was just wondering about something.

- Listen, why do maids have to blab about their queen?

- Well, I didn't tell them not to. And it wouldn't be nice, if you think about it, to keep them quiet. And even if I did, they'd talk anyway.

We got dressed. Padme stood by the mirror and began to tidy up her face, while I took a closer look at my own face. I needed to remove any traces of disguise if I was going to be exposed in front of Padme. Sitting in meditation, I set to work on regaining my original appearance. After about five minutes, I opened my eyes. Padme was watching me with interest, sitting on a chair in front of the mirror.

- What?

- Your hair...and your face.....

- I know," I touched my overgrown hair, "I had to disguise myself. Okay," I stood up, "now I'm me again.

I grinned and turned to Erdva, to ask him to bring me my usual imperial clothes, but then I heard footsteps outside the door. There were six people there, two maids who had already entered and four unidentified individuals. They stood under the door and knocked loudly.

- Your majesty?

Padme took a couple of steps back, whispering:

- It's Panaka! Oh, the Force...

It wasn't the prettiest situation, but it wasn't personally threatening to me or Padme. Just a little annoyance at the maids who were too chatty. The door opened and Panaka entered. The Negro captain looked round the room for unidentified persons, finding me.

- Who the hell are you? - He put his hand on the hilt of his pistol.

- Anakin Skywalker," I shrugged, "Emperor of Koros. And you, sir?

- This is Panaka, my head of security," Padme came out, who had been standing behind me, "Panaka, is something wrong?

- No, your majesty," he looked at me intently, "an intruder was reported.

- It's alright," Padme turned pink, "I've brought Ani....

- By the way!" I changed the subject, "when is this feast going to start, because I don't know whether I should attend it or not...

Panaka, not having noticed anything threatening her majesty's safety, wanted to reprimand her, but I glared at him in such a way that he decided to stop with lectures. The negro left, but the maids came in.

- Your Majesty?

Padmé and I turned round in synchronisation and asked:

- What?

The girls hesitated, and I, remembering that I was not supposed to be here, went to Padmé and, after a brief kiss, said, "I will be at the reception tonight. We'll have to discuss the financial and... personal side of politics.

- Good," Padme reached out once more and, kissing me, let me go. The look on the faces, and especially the emotions of the two maids deserve to be recorded in memory as a sample of shock.

With a smile of Lieutenant Rzhevsky, I went away, but Padme called me:

- By the way, where are you going?

I stood up and wondered. And really, where am I going? Acclamators are busy, and somehow I don't know what I'm going to do there. There are no Imperial cabins, like on the NWR... Sina and Hortad are scheduled to arrive today, so I just decided to wait for them in Tida, without any unnecessary wandering.

- I don't know," I turned around, standing at the door, "You know, I have no idea.

- Then stay here.

- Why?

- I think my parents will want to meet you. They really, really will. If they're not already running here.

Yeah, the only thing faster than the speed of light is the speed of hearing.

Anyway, what the fuck? I've had enough of this, I need to sort it out and get on with my life. I've got a lot of work to do and some petty personal problems. And you have to start a normal life with yourself. First - you need to drink at the right time and in the right place, not by accident. Secondly, sleeping with women while drunk is not a good practice either. I've already had one surprise, Shiai, I don't need another "kinder surprise". And thirdly, misleading everyone is a bad idea. It's a shame it's gone this far, but we need to sort this out permanently, and start by introducing the girls to each other. Although, I was beginning to wonder if that was a good idea.

It's the Force, the balance, damn it. I'm working as a procurer, and I get two girls myself. It's not a bad situation, if you think about it, but it's unexpected. We're gonna have to untangle this whole tangle of misunderstandings, misunderstandings and secrets. We can start with Padme and her family, then talk to Sabine, then with Mum. It's not good that I haven't seen her in a while.

- OK, Padme, let's not get ahead of the hyperdrive, we'll explain when they come. I'd like to talk to my mum while we still have time. Can you tell me where she lives?

- Of course, you'll be escorted out. no, all the maids will be at the palace today, so you can meet her... she'll probably be here soon. Padmé was not one hundred per cent sure, but I nodded, and together with Erdva I left the queen's chambers, leaving Padmé to the mercy of her maids. I will find whoever I need to find.

Today is an eventful day, I can feel it. No sooner had I left Padmé's chambers, accompanied by the stares of the guards, than Erdva came out with the most unpleasant news. The droid that had been following me as I walked at a brisk pace through the palace corridors turned around and reported:

- Incoming call from Captain Cal.

- Put him through," I was surprised that Cal, the captain of my boat, had suddenly decided to get on the line. Something must have happened, because after buying a ship for the kids for their wedding trip, Cal went with them, among the people he had selected to crew their, Shiai and Ahsoka's, ship.

- Your Majesty? - A diminutive projection of the Mandalorian appeared above the droid," It is good to see you in good health.

- Good day to you too, Kal. So, has something happened?

- Not at all, your majesty, I'm just letting you know that I'm near Naboo, with your family.

- Why would they be here? - I wondered, they were on a wedding trip, weren't they?

- That's right, but when they heard that there was a war on Naboo, they decided to come to you. I dissuaded them from coming until the fighting was over, but they insisted on coming anyway.

Yes, I should have told them I wanted to fight a little under the guise of a simple soldier. Children, or rather teenagers, would they miss such an interesting event? Of course not.

- All right, Cal, land. If I remember correctly, the corvette has a diplomatic ID, so you can land at the palace in Theda.

- Will do, Your Majesty," Cal disconnected, and I looked at Erdv:

- Yes, my friend, more and more chaos in an already illusory-ordered world. Can you show me the way to the local hangars?

- Sure," Erdva smugly turned round and rode ahead of me.

The hangars of the palace were, in my opinion, very impractical. Firstly, the floor, it was made of polished granite slabs. To replace one of these if damaged would mean the hangar would be up for repair, secondly the columns. On the sides of the spacious hangar stood tall columns. They were hardly really necessary, but rather a decorative element. However, they reduced the space of the hangar, which is also not good, and the last thing - the hangar had no gates. That is, the hangar's portal simply went out into the open sky. Since the palace stood on a cliff, a picturesque valley stretched below, behind the hangar. Now I understand why they started storming the palace in the film from the hangar - there are no gates, no flaps, you can go in, or rather, fly in, whoever you want. Beautiful, but totally impractical, and not even safe.

I arrived just at the same time as the CR corvette the kids were living on. The corvette sank smoothly to the granite floor slabs. There were dozens of other people in the hangar besides me, technicians, pilots, guards. The latter escorted each arriving ship.

The ramp lowered and down it ran this couple. Shiai and Ahsoka. They looked no better than they had after five years of training - in fancy clothes, tailor-made to the latest Corellian fashion, faces cheerful, gait more confident, and most importantly - eyes. Not as tired as before. Shiai was holding hands with Ahsoka, but as soon as they were down on the floor, he ran up to me:

- Hi, Dad!

I, hugging him, hummed:

- Hi, son. How's life young? Can I look forward to grandchildren?

Shiai turned a little pink, but confidently replied:

- Dad, you yourself forbade it. And you're right, we got too... carried away back then. Not in this decade.

- I'm glad," I chuckled, "by the way, your grandmother's not even forty yet. I bet when she sees you, she'll be speechless.

Shiai clapped his eyes innocently.

- Ahsoka! - I smiled, "Why are you standing there like you're not my own? By the way, children, I have some news for you.

- Well? - Shiai asked impatiently, - what news?

- There is a girl...I need to introduce you to her.

- Oh, you've finally found a girl,'' the son asked snidely.

- What kind of tone is that?

- Oh, don't mind me," he backed up, "it's just that some people are starting to talk....

- I got it," I grinned, "tell them they can shove their speculations up their....

- I got it," Shiai smiled, "Dad, is she pretty?

- Very. If you don't mind, I'll stay on your ship for the time being?

- You ask," he shrugged his shoulders and stepped aside.

Along with Shiai, his guards approached. Six Mandalorians in carless armour and with blasters in their hands. On their forearms were the emblems of the Guard and the Empire. These are my personal guards, chosen by Syn and Hortad from their entire host. The chief stepped closer:

- Your majesty," he bowed briefly, "any instructions?

I thought for a moment. There were no special instructions for them, but they needed to keep their faces.

- Two come with me, the rest as usual," I nodded at Shiai. The commander gave his men orders in Mandalorian and the two moved closer to me. We moved in a procession towards the exit of the palace. Shiai followed behind me with the guards trailing a little behind. We exited the palace through the main entrance, surprising the procession of ordinary citizens who were also allowed into the many halls of the palace as visitors and tourists.

The halls of the royal palace were quite similar to a hangar, that is, marble floor, columns, decorative elements... it all reeked strongly of the spirit of ancient Roman architecture. Shiai started asking on the way:

- Dad, were you in the war?

- I did," I grinned, "but only in one battle. The rest was done by the locals.

- Why were you talking about Grandma?

- Because she lives on Naboo. Your aunt lives here, too, by the way. She's a year and a few months old now.

I wondered, looking at the small ornamental garden in front of the palace. Before Sina and Hortad arrived, I'd still have time to see how Mum was settling in. The arrival of the two lovebirds made the situation worse, and I had to walk to Mum's house in a nice procession that attracted attention. Mama's house was not far from the palace, only a kilometre away. The house was an ordinary Nabuan one, with a round roof, large windows, geometrically correct. Finding nothing better to do, I rang the bell. Half a minute later the door opened, and Mum appeared on the doorstep. Oh, she looked younger than Tosya when we last parted.

- Who do you want? - she spotted the whole procession, looking round. Me in my Guard uniform, an astrodroid, two Togrutian and half-Togrutian faces, and two men in battle armour. The surprise was not feigned.

- Shmi Riekan lives here? - I raised an eyebrow.

- Yes, that's me..." she thought for a second, "come on in.

Like I said, people in Koros uniforms are treated very differently here. Even though I ordered them not to publicise our work, the locals got the battle footage from the recorders and got themselves a mega-movie. Mum stepped aside to let me into the house. The degree of peacefulness and friendliness is just off the scale - I would never let a stranger into the house if I were her. Maman walked past me and invited me into the living room. I didn't see anyone else in the house but her, and I didn't look in the force.

While she was busy, I looked around - the place was quite cosy. A real family nest, soft-coloured walls, sparse furniture, a spacious hall and corridor, a staircase to the first floor in the main hall. It was... kind of homely in here. I'd never had it like this in my habitat - always either a purely masculine room or cabin, or a master suite on a yacht, a little pretentious in its stylishness and richness. I ordered the guards to wait for me away from my person. They nodded in agreement, standing near the entrance to the living room. Mum looked at them in surprise, then turned her gaze to me:

- To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr....

- Skywalker," I chuckled as I watched her eyebrows rise in surprise, "I just came by to see how you were doing. You look amazing, by the way,

Shiai and Ahsoka stood silently behind me, not getting into the conversation. Maman patted her eyes in surprise, -Skywalker? You...

- Anakin Skywalker," I introduced myself again, raising my hands, "I know my appearance has changed a lot lately. You know, my hair and eyes have changed colour, some genetic thing, I guess. Or maybe the Force did it to me. I'm not sure.

Mum, exhaling in surprise, came closer:

- So it's really you?

- I am," I stood up, "I told you and Padmé that I was alive and well. So where do you think I'm going?

In response, Mum was moved to tears and threw herself into a hug. I didn't feel that strongly, as I was following her through my agents, but I did. We hugged for about three minutes, she said something excitedly, but I didn't understand half of it, and then she pulled away.

- Ani! Is that really you?

- Yes I am, mum, I am, - I sighed and sat up, - you can't imagine how life was leaving me. Let me tell you," we took seats opposite each other. Meanwhile, Shiai and Ahsoka were watching the family reunion somehow aloofly....