If you want to read more chapters ahead from here you can visit my Patre-on.
[P] [A] [T] [R] [E] [O] [N]
https://patreon.com/kelly_over
____________
And given the fact Harry didn't hate the Dursleys, for what they had done to him when he lived with them Yoda doubted Harry could actually hate anyone. The two of them had talked about the Dursleys and other things during Yoda's time spent on the Explorer. Harry was not the first abused child to be allowed into the Order, nor the first Yoda had dealt with. He knew what questions to ask, what to look out for to make certain the youth was no more likely to fall to the Dark Side than anyone else.
Yes, Harry had anger within him and some buttons that no one in their right mind would push. But that was normal for a child of his background, and Harry's sheer joy at having his mother with him washed out much of the anger Yoda had been worried about. And while Harry loathed the Dursleys and anyone who would abuse a child, he did not hate them, or wish to see them treated as he had been.
Anakin hated slavers of all sorts, and was very much in favor of an eye for an eye philosophy of dealing with them. He also had an arrogance in him because of how well he could already use the Force without formal training, which had not been helped by Qui-Gon already starting his instruction.
After that the meeting broke up, and Harry and Aayla went in search of Zule and the rest of their friends. Most of them had already turned in for the night however, leaving Zule, Wulo and two others Kass Todd and Mak Lotor were awake. Zule was still awake because she and Master Glaive were due to leave on another mission in an hour, while Wulo was still awake because he was to report to Master Yoda, who had formally taken him on as padawan, on the results of his meditation. The other two were simply night owls, not needing nearly as much sleep as most needed.
When told about what had almost happened to Aayla, the others were sad while Zule was angry that her friend had nearly gone through such a horrifying experience. Aayla talked her down, though Zule then asked Harry if he would come and saver her if she was ever in trouble like that, to which Harry replied in the affirmative as if the answer was obvious, something that brought a flush to the half-Falleen's face and won a laugh from Aayla. They spent about an hour talking to them before Fay decided they needed to leave, something telling her they had to leave soon or else Harry's presence would no longer be hidden.
At the same time, they nearly ran into Anakin, Master Windu, Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi, who the two youngsters hadn't met before. They were waiting in the main hall, talking quietly while a Consular class diplomatic frigate was being prepared for their journey to Naboo by a few knights and the queen of Naboo's guards.
With them also stood several maids dressed in Naboo's version of a maid uniform along with several dozen maids and the queen of Naboo, dressed in formal attire.
Zule was still exchanging stories with Harry and she and Aayla traded snickers at the sight of the Nabooan queen's attire. "Oh, my word, who in the universe came up with that getup?"
The queen heard them, and moved over in their direction, a smirk on her face which upset her pasty white makeup. Behind her Anakin made to follow only to stop at a question from Master Windu about his Force abilities and how they related to his apparent history of pod racing a subject that was near and dear to his hear.
"I think it was the same person who thought up the idea of the ruling monarch requiring musical accompaniment to enter a room. Luckily I've at least done away with that. How are you two? Did you convince the Order?" A familiar voice asked from underneath the makeup.
"We did quite well Padme," Aayla said, still snickering at the other girl's getup becoming serious. "We just arrived this afternoon, and we've been in… discussions with the High Council since, so we haven't heard anything since the report that you had pushed for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum."
"Did you figure out my identity yourself, or did one of the Jedi masters tell you?" Padme asked, almost pouting which segued into a wan smile when Harry indicated that Fay had told them. She, Lily and Quinlan stood elsewhere in the hall, letting the children, and now the queen, speak alone for a time. "Well at least my disguise fooled everyone but the Jedi. Ah well."
She went on more seriously. "As for my asking for a vote of no confidence, as the reigning monarch of a member planet it was within my right in times of crisis to do so and it was pointed out to me that Valorum has become rather a lame kaddu of late, with no real power base in the Senate any longer beyond a few friends who are willing to listen to him."
"Actually everyone is willing to listen to him talk, but no one is willing to actually follow him anymore." Zule said, shaking her head. "I never liked Valorum, he has a weak chin."
"Not the most in depth political analysis there but I suppose his chin could be a sign of his lack of political power," Padme said tartly, looking over at the slightly older girl. Aayla introduced the two and Padme nodded to Zule before gesturing over to Obi-Wan and the others. "I am afraid however that the Senate's debate on who to replace Valorum is not moving quickly enough to save my people. We received several messages from my chief advisor about thousands of my people being rounded up and taken off world, or killed for minor infractions. So the Jedi Order has been forced to step in."
Harry nodded slowly, frowning. "Not to disparage what is happening to your people Padme, but why did you think that the Senate would suddenly be willing to move faster if you removed Valorum? Surely the chaos of that move will only slow any response." Fay had given Harry a very good grounding in politics and law, so such things seemed obvious to him.
_____________
If you want to read more chapters ahead from here you can visit my Patre-on.
[P] [A] [T] [R] [E] [O] [N]
https://patreon.com/kelly_over