Of Love and War Book 3: In The Thick of Battle

Chapter 22: Season 3 (The Academy)

"Tell me again, how did you wiggle your way into this Zee?"

Zelina chuckled, leaning forward in her seat so that she could address Anakin's question directly. "It was simple; I simply said that I felt I could be of help and that while I was here I could use that meditative retreat Obi-Wan has been pressuring me to take. With Mandalore's neutral, peaceful tendencies, I said that it was the perfect place to take a step back and do some healthy meditating."

Anakin rolled his eyes. "And yet I get the feeling that you have no interest on doing so. Help, yes, meditate? No."

Ahsoka chipped in. "I assume this is still my mission though."

Zelina held up her hands in surrender. "Hey, you have your orders, and I have my motives elsewhere."

Anakin shook his head at Zelina's choice of words, angling the ship into the atmosphere of Mandalore as he spoke. "The Jedi Council has given you a mission Ahsoka; it's your duty to see it through."

"Don't you think I'm just a little overqualified for this?" Ahsoka asked in a demeaning tone.

"According to Senator Amidala Mandalore is a deeply corrupt world. If the cycle is to be broken the leaders at the royal academy of government must learn the evils of corruption. Yoda feels that only a young Padawan like you can get through to them," Anakin explained patiently.

Zelina nodded. "Besides, Mandalore harbors many surprises, and I'm sure will keep you busier than you expect to be," Zelina said with a chuckle. She glanced at Anakin and gave him a small smile. It was nice to see him teaching someone like Ahsoka, though she couldn't help but agree with Padme some days that it was a surprise that the Council had let him teach. Still, he was a great teacher for Ahsoka, and he was sure that no one could have taught her any better than Anakin could.

As for Mandalore, it had been some time since Zelina had been there. She was fully welcoming to the idea of seeing Satine again, and she liked the more relaxing nature of this world than the current war that was raging. It was hard not to.

Zelina stood up before Anakin even settled the ship, stretching with a yawn as he gently coasted into place. "Come on you two; I know you have to be somewhere else Ani, so we might as well get the formalities over with."

Anakin powered down the ship with a sigh. "You're pretty eager to get on with this mission, aren't you Zee?"

Zelina grinned at him. "You have no idea."

Anakin smiled a little, standing up. "All right, we're coming."

Zelina sighed, rolling her shoulders as they descended the ramp beside Anakin. Ahsoka trailed behind them, sticking closer to Anakin subconsciously as they approached the figures that were waiting for them on the other side of the landing platform.

Zelina smiled as she spotted Satine in the early Mandalore morning, dressed in her traditional Duchess robes and standing elegantly beside the Prime Minister. They were flanked by Satine's personal guards, and Zelina could see a small group of cadets standing behind them, just barely in sight.

"Duchess Satine," Anakin greeted her graciously, taking Satine's hand in his and giving it a respectful and reserved kiss only a married man could give before he stepped away. He turned to look at the Prime Minister who stood beside Satine. "Prime Minister Almec."

"Master Skywalker, it's so good to see you again; and you too Master Du'ahn," Satine said with a broad smile. Zelina returned the Duchess' grin and inclined her head.

"Duchess; it's good to see you too," she said, following her words up with a deep and sincere bow. She could practically feel Anakin's raised eyebrow gaze. She was never that respectful to the Chancellor, and she knew that was what he was thinking. She ignored him; she didn't really want to bring the Chancellor into all this. The tension between the two of them had been steadily increasing, and Anakin was neither oblivious nor immune to it. Zelina refused to bring him into the conflict, though it seemed that was not below the Chancellor.