A Different Path

Prologue

"Hello"-Mando'a
'Hello'-thinking

32 BBY
Dune Sea, Tatooine

Flashback
In the harsh and inhospitable desert called the Dune Sea, a little girl limped, struggling, starving, she stumbled into a cave, hoping to find some shade from the relentless heat of Tatooine's two suns. Dried tears burned her cheeks, brought on by her mother's death. The girl passed out, falling to the ground in the cave she sought refuge in. But just before she did, she found two odd cubes, lying just out of her reach.
Flashback End

22 BBY 09:30
Mos Espa, Tatooine
Tatooine, once a violent place full of death and chaos. The Daily death toll reached 25,000. Many of those deaths were escaped slaves whose transmitters were detonated. Some slaves were just killed as a warning against defiance or just on a sickening whim. But that was three years ago. Before their Empress freed them. Now, there are no slaves, only free men and women. Whether in Mos Espa or Mos Eisley, you won't find a single slave. People can walk down the streets, unafraid for perhaps, the first time in their lives. The streets are paved, with roads leading from Mos Espa to each and every town and city on the planet. There are more cities being built even now. There are schools and hospitals in each city and a clinic within 5 miles of every town.

Royal Palace, Outskirts of Mos Espa
Anakin Skywalker jolted up out of the comfortable bed she laid in. Moving her blonde locks out of her eyes. After a decade of growth, Anakin had grown up into a very beautiful woman. A knocking at her door caught her attention. "Cyar'ika, there are Ambassadors here to see you.", came the voice of the Captain of her Royal Guard and husband, Kal Ordo. Kal is a handsome man with a strong jawline, high cheekbones and dimples, with brown eyes and hair. Born in 41 BBY, Kal was born a slave just like she was. He was rescued from his master Gardula the Hutt when a Mandalorian woman named Saesi Ordo freed him. He returned to Tatooine after he passed his Verd'Gotten and at sixteen, he helped Anakin free the planet from the monstrous tyranny of the Hutt Cartels. His armor is black with some red. Particularly around the T visor on his helmet, shoulders, knees and vembraces. "Anakin.", Kal persisted. Shaking her head, Anakin replied. "Ni Kelir cuyir ogir nusujii (I'll be there shortly).", she replied.

Five minutes later

Anakin stepped out of her bedchamber, armed and armored(the armor and lightsaber are both in the appearance section). She nodded to Kal and they left. "So Kal, who are these ambassadors?", she asked him in Mando'a stepping a little closer to him, always happy to be in his presence. As Kal looked at her she could sense his love for her. It was overpowering as always. "You will be meeting two Ambassadors. One from the Republic and one from the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They will try to manipulate you into thinking that they know what best for you and 3000 Star Systems you protect. If things don't go the way they want them to, the Republic might try regime change. The Confederacy will most likely attack us.", he briefed. They came to the door to what was once Jabba's Throne Room. Anakin stopped. 'I sense a presence I haven't felt since...' "Kenobi and a Padawan plus Amidala.", she said, finishing the thought out loud. Kal looked at her before keying the comlink on his helmet. "Guardsmen. Be alert, two of the Ambassadors from the Republic are Jedi.", he reported, knowing the Royal Guards would act if needed.

Throne Room
The Ambassadors of both the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, stood in front of what was once Jabba's Throne. Senator Bail Organa turned to Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Obi-Wan, what do you think about the Imperial Union?", he asked before he would come to her his conclusions. "I only know that they somehow built a massive military. It shouldn't be possible to build a military that large that quickly.", the Jedi said. "And this Empress? What do you think of her?", Bail asked. Obi-Wan thought for a moment. "The Council thinks that this Empress is a threat. And I'm inclined to agree. There are images of her using a lightsaber in battles against the Hutts. Her training is completely unknown. We don't even know what she looks like because she wears a the armor of a mandalorian.", he replied.

The Empress in question chose that moment to walk in, having heard the whole conversation. "I wear the armor because I married into House Ordo, my husband is Duke of House Ordo, Jedi. I'm a Mandalorian." In strode ten individuals with black and white armor. Behind them walked a beautiful woman with golden hair and eyes as blue as the ocean wearing red and silver Mandalorian Armor. Beside her walked a Mandalorian man with red and black armor.

As the Empress sat in her throne, placing her helmet on her armrest, she looked at both ambassadors. "I welcome you all to the Capital of the Union. I am the Empress, Anakin of House Ordo. You've all come to speak with me, and through me 3000 neutral systems, so speak.", she said wanting to cut right to the point.
The CIS Senator, a rather plain human male introduced himself first, his BX-Commando guards walking forward as well. "Greetings Your Grace, I am Senator Rook Larr of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. I have come here today to ask you to join us in our fight for liberty.", he said grandiosely. Anakin nodded and turned to Bail and the two Jedi. "Your Grace. My name is Bail Organa, Senator from the Galactic Republic. I'm here to deliver an offer of membership in the Galactic Senate. This will give you protection from any Separatist incursions.", he said.

"Incursions?! What about the Republic-
The Republic does not force systems to join it that's only you- Say it to my face you-" any further argument was cut off by the Empress pulling out one of her Westar-35's and firing into the air. Twang twang twang As the Ambassadors turned to look at her startled, she looked at them with a baleful gaze. "Senator Organa, we need no protection, our fleet outnumbers you both 10 to 1. I can simply charge you head on and obliterate your fleets. I have the numbers to do it.", she said standing up. "We will continue this tomorrow. My guards will show you to your rooms.", as she said this two of the guards walked up to the ambassadors.

Later Royal Chambers
Anakin and Kal were in their chambers, taking their armor off and placing it on the armor stands in the room. She sighed in annoyance as she placed her helmet on the stand. "What is it?",her husband asked. "I have to say it Kal, I don't want to join this war.", she said already knowing what his response would be. "And before you say how it would be fun, I'm already going to ally us with the Republic.", Anakin said, knowing very well that her husband loved a good fight. "So what's the problem?", Kal asked, knowing his wife disliked violence. Anakin freed Tatooine and the entirety of Hutt Space. Although she disliked violence, she does understand it's sometimes necessary, and she understands the value of a powerful military. She is most definitely not a pacifist.

"The 'problem', as you put it, is that I don't want to join this war. That being said, I already know that I'll have to pick a side. The Republic might leave us alone but the Separatists won't.", she said morosely. "We're far too powerful for either side to ignore for very long.", Kal said walking up to his wife's back, pulling her to him. "Forget about it for now", he said, laying kisses on her back shoulder, kissing his way up the side of her neck. She moaned lowly, enjoying the attention. "Come, join me in our bed. Forget about everything tonight.", he said, pulling her close. She turned around and hooked her arms around his neck, laying a passionate kiss on his lips. The fell on the bed in a passionate embrace.

22 BBY 09:30
Royal Palace, Tatooine

Anakin sat on her throne, waiting for the Ambassadors to arrive so they could begin the second round of negotiations, her husband at her side, her guards standing in position in every corner of the room, close enough to act immediately, if needed. Soon enough, Senator Organa and his Jedi guards walked back in, followed by Senator Rook Larr and his droids along with a bald female with a cloak covering most of her body, minus her head. "Welcome back Senators. I trust you've had ample time to cool your tongues.", she said. "We have Your Grace. I promise you, such an outburst will not happen again.", Bail said. Rook Larr nodded in agreement with his Republic counterpart.
"Then I will give you my decision. I am sorry Senator Larr, I will be allying with the Republic.", she said. Rook Larr looked understandably at her. "I understand Your Grace. I will take my leave now.", Rook said, bowing at the waist with Anakin returning his bow. As he turned to leave the bald woman smiled viciously at Anakin before she turned to leave.

"Your Grace, you will not regret this decision.", Bail said. "Yes well, I suppose that we'll have to go before your Senate for further negotiations.", Anakin assumed.